Red Line Trail
The Red Line Trail is a planned, 32-mile trail network that would follow CapMetro’s Red Line Rail from Downtown Austin to Leander once completed. Capital Delivery Services Department is developing portions of Red Line Trail on behalf of the Austin Transportation and Public Works’ Urban Trails Program.
The Urban Trails Program has identified priority trail projects throughout the Red Line corridor in the 2014 Urban Trails Plan. The Red Line Trail presents a great opportunity for North-South connectivity and would provide key connections to public transit, including linking with CapMetro’s Red Line Rail.
Only some portions of this trail have been built, keep reading to learn about what sections the Urban Trails Program will construct next.
Red Line Trail Active Projects
Red Line Trail (Braker Lane to Northern Walnut Creek Trail)
The City of Austin's Urban Trails Program is developing a portion of the Red Line Trail in partnership with the Capital Delivery Services Department.
The 1.7-mile portion of the Red Line Trail will connect Braker Lane to the Northern Walnut Creek Trail. The project will also connect to the future McKalla Station and Broadmoor CapMetro Rail Stations, with plans to connect to the Q2 Stadium.
Project Limits
The Red Line Trail (Braker Lane to Northern Walnut Creek Trail) will be developed in four segments. Constructing the trail in these different segments will save money and simplify construction logistics as other projects in the area are built.
Segment 1: West Braker Lane to Kramer Lane
Construction on this 1/3-mile section is anticipated to begin in 2025, but this timeline is subject to change. Eventually, the trail will connect to CapMetro’s new McKalla Station and the Q2 Stadium.
Segment 2
Construction began in Summer 2023 on this 1/3-mile section as part of the Burnet Corridor project. Please note, this section of trail will not connect to roads or trails until other segments of the Red Line Trail are constructed.
Segment 3:IBM Campus to Gracy Farms Lane
This half-mile section will connect to the future Broadmoor Station, includes a spur trail connection to Gault Lane, and will cross to the west side of the tracks near the IBM campus. Construction is expected to begin in Spring 2026, but the timeline may change as construction must be coordinated with the ongoing construction of Uptown ATX.
Segment 4: Gracy Farms Lane to the Northern Walnut Creek Trail
This 0.58-mile section will connect to the Northern Walnut Creek Trail near the MoPac underpass. Crews will also construct a shared use path along the North Mopac Frontage Road for improved connectivity to Burnet Road. Construction is expected to being in Spring 2026.
Project Background & Process
The Red Line Trail team started the planning process for this portion of Red Line Trail in Fall 2017. The project reached 60% design in July 2023.
Preliminary Engineering Report
The Red Line Trail Preliminary Engineering
Report shows the recommended route for Red Line Trail. It also lists topics the City needs to consider to build
this trail, such as environmental concerns, wildlife, nearby property
ownership, and more.
Public Involvement
The project team hosted several public input opportunities throughout the development of the 1.7-mile segment of the Red Line Trail.
Public Meeting 1: December 13, 2017 - December 13, 2017: The project team hosted the first public meeting to get community feedback for the Preliminary Engineering Report. This feedback informed the recommendations we presented in February 2019.
Public Meeting 2: February 21, 2019 - The project team hosted the second public meeting to share recommendations for Red Line Trail and get feedback.
July 20, 2023 – August 31, 2023: 60% Design Virtual Open House
Capital Delivery Services held a virtual open house to gather feedback on 60% design plans for the 1.7-mile segments that will connect Northern Walnut Creek Trail to Braker Lane. View the virtual open house.
Estimated Project Timeline
- Planning: Spring 2017-Spring 2019
- Design: Summer 2019-Spring 2025
- Construction: Refer to segments above.
Project Funding
Red Line Trail (from Braker Ln. to Northern Walnut Creek Trail) is funded through the design phase as part of the 2016 Mobility Bond's Local Mobility Program.
The Planned Red Line Trail Network
The Urban Trails Program is coordinating in the development of Red Line Trail with partners including Capital Delivery Services Department, the Austin Parks and Recreation Department, and the Red Line Parkway Initiative.
Trail Network Limits
Portions of the Red Line Trail also overlap with the Lance Armstrong Bikeway and the EastLink Trail.
Completed Red Line Trail Sections
The following portions of the trail are open to the public:
- Along New Hope Drive, between the cities of Leander and Cedar Park
- Between Crestview Station and US 290
- From Austin Community College Highland Campus to CapMetro Crestview station
- From Rosewood Avenue to Capital Metro MLK Jr. Station (also known as the Boggy Creek Trail)
- Between Rosewood Avenue to E. Ceasar Chavez (on-street protected bikeways and trail connections)
- Margaret Moser Plaza to Plaza Saltillo
Get Involved!
Contact Us
- Submit questions and comments about this project
- Request a presentation from the project team for your group or organization
Stay Updated
Get updates on Red Line Trail, or stay in the loop with the Urban Trails Program by filling out the form below. (You can also sign up for updates about other Urban Trails projects here.)
Maps on this page are for informational purposes and may not have been prepared for or be suitable for legal, engineering, or surveying purposes. It does not represent an on-the-ground survey and represents only the approximate relative location of property boundaries.