Study and prepare a plan for transit-oriented development at crestview station and ryan drive developments

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CapMetro) $1.5 million under the Federal Transit Capital Investment Grants program (CFDA 20.500) on August 28, 2025, to develop comprehensive planning and design deliverables for a transit-oriented development (TOD) initiative at Crestview Station and the adjacent Ryan Drive property in Austin, Texas. The project will produce a programming and pre-design study with up to 20% design development of a multimodal transit hub, robust public engagement documentation, and recommendations for regulatory updates to the existing North Lamar/Justin Lane TOD Regulating Plan. Additionally, the grant funds will support implementation of the TOD Policy Toolkit to guide future development activities.

In partnership with the City of Austin, CapMetro will facilitate the creation of a multimodal transit hub that integrates rail, trail, bicycle, bus, and pedestrian connectivity while supporting mixed-use development on the city-owned brownfield Ryan Drive property. The planning efforts anticipate enhanced pedestrian safety across rail infrastructure and improved trail and bicycle access, with private sector joint development projected to deliver a minimum of 300 multifamily housing units—50% affordable—plus over 7,000 square feet of commercial and community space. The project completion date is September 30, 2027.

Purpose

The purpose of this grant is to study and prepare a plan for transit-oriented development at crestview station and ryan drive developments.

Activities

Capmetro is partnering with the city of austin to develop a multimodal transit hub at the capmetro rail crestview station combined with new affordable housing in the adjoining ryan drive property - a city-owned brownfield. The project plans for a hub that will facilitate multimodal connectivity (rail trail bike bus and pedestrian) and partner with the private sector to build mixed-use housing as part of the station plaza to generate higher ridership and enhanced economic development along a priority extension of the austin light rail. The grant funding will produce a programming/pre-design study up to a 20% design development of the transit plaza and multimodal hub a robust public engagement plan recommendations for regulatory updates to the corridors existing n. Lamar/justin lane TOD regulating plan and implementation of the TOD policy toolkit.

Expected outcomes

The project will deliver a programming/pre-design study and up to 20% design to enhance and incorporate the multimodal hub acceleration for connectivity and transit access to the community. This will enable safe crossing for pedestrians across both sides of the tracks and facilitate additional access for the trail and bicycle traffic. Ahfc is planning on joint development with a private sector developer to construct at least 300 units of multi-family housing at ryan drive of which 50% is affordable. Ryan drive will also enable mixed-use development with over 7000 square feet of planned commercial and community space making the larger transit plaza and station area a vibrant and active space. The ryan drive development coupled with a larger transit hub will undoubtedly enhance ridership and economic development of the neighborhood. The project will plan for shade trees minimizing permeable cover and landscaping to absorb stormwater. The plan will focus on ways to connect transit bike and pedestrian modes. The crestview station transit plaza will develop a plan for how infrastructure and transportation coordination aligns each major project within the station area developing concepts for how the infrastructure best connects riders pedestrians and cyclists to transit in this area while ensuring TOD benefits.

Intended beneficiaries

The intended beneficiaries include capmetro the riders of capmetro service and region.

Subrecipient activities

There are no subrecipient activities associated with this award.