December 4, 2025 - KXAN.com -

Austin is currently in the middle of a decade-long plan to bring a light rail system to the city and surrounding area.

Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) is currently in its planning, design, and development phase of the transit project, which was approved by voters in 2020.

Austin’s light rail is expected to open for service in 2033. That project timeline might seem like a long wait to some, ATP said it’s on track and “consistent with how these projects are done around the country.”

One example is a light rail line that’s part of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) System. DART’s Silver Line, a 26-mile route connecting several suburbs to the DFW Airport, recently opened for riders after years of delays.

According to the Dallas Observer, the line was highly anticipated and took around 40 years of planning.

Read more: https://www.kxan.com/traffic/traffic-projects/project-connect/austin-light-rail-plans-moving-quickly-for-a-transit-project-of-its-magnitude/

Photo credit: Texas Rail Advocates, current CepMetro Red Line train