CapMetro’s “double-tracking” project in Leander is officially completed

CapMetro and local leaders cut the ribbon in Leander Wednesday on the $6.88 million “dual footprint” project, the first to be completed under Project Connect’s transit expansion plan.

“This is a transformation and just the very first tip of the iceberg,” said Eric Stratton, board member of CapMetro.

Dual tracking is exactly what it sounds like. After a year of construction, the roughly 15-mile section of the Red Line from Leander to Lakeline now has two tracks instead of one.

“These redline improvements are a critical component of the project’s vision and will benefit the community starting today,” said Veronica Castro de Barrera, chair of the Austin Transit Partnership.

CapMetro says the dual track will help ensure trains arrive on time because they can miss each other.

“This allows us to get our schedules back up faster when something goes wrong,” said CapMetro Acting President and CEO Dottie Watkins.

“So we shouldn’t see the slowdowns and disruptions that we’ve seen in the past,” Leander Mayor Christine DeLisle said.

Dual running is expected to improve train reliability, but CapMetro says it won’t be adding new trains to the schedule, at least not yet.

“We are not doing this immediately as we have another construction on the line. But as these projects go live, we will add trains to the system and be able to run more frequently and more reliably,” Watkins said.

With the upgrades, local leaders are optimistic about the economic benefits for the entire region as rail links between downtown Austin and points to the north become a little easier.

“Well, let me tell everyone in Austin that Leander is the place to be,” DeLisle said. “Go up here and spend some of your tax dollars here, it’s cheaper than spending them in Austin. And we’ll be glad to see you.”

The next site to add double track is in North Austin near Q2 Stadium. This will be done in conjunction with the highly anticipated McCullah Train Station, scheduled to open in time for the 2024 Austin FC season.

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texasstandard.news contributed to this report.

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