The Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) has shortlisted three firms to proceed to the request for proposals (RFPs) stage for the next phase of the Austin Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, also known as Project Connect. Following a structured request for the qualifications process, the shortlisted firms will be invited to submit detailed proposals for the final design and construction of civil engineering works, rail infrastructure, stations, and system components.
The three shortlisted firms are Austin Rail Constructors, a joint venture between Stacy & Witbeck, Inc. and Sundt Construction, Inc.; FCC Construction, Inc.; and Kiewit Infrastructure South Co. The firms must submit their RFP proposals by October 24, 2025. The ATP plans to award the final contract in early 2026.
The initial phase of the project is a 9.79-mile-long alignment that covers 15 stations and a new dedicated bridge over Lady Bird Lake. The route will run from north of Downtown Austin, through the central business district (CBD), and split into two branches—one extending along South Congress Avenue and the other along East Riverside Drive, with a future extension planned to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
The project is estimated to cost around $7.1 billion, with funding sourced from a voter-approved property tax increase and a planned federal grant application. Construction is expected to commence in 2027, with service projected to start in 2033. The ATP, a local government corporation, is responsible for the design and construction of the project, while Capital Metro will operate the system once it has been completed.