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Red Line Track Built
The track that would one day become the Red Line was built in 1850. It was originally built to ship Granite to build the State Capital. -
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Austin's Streetcar System
Believe it or not, little tiny Austin had a well developed (for the time period) streetcar system. It was around the 1940's when riding public transit became less popular then the car, so, the City of Austin decommissioned the streetcars. -
Capital Metro Established
Capital Metro was established by a referendum on July 1st, 1985. It continues to this day to oversee public transportation in Central Texas. -
Capital Metro and The City of Austin Acquire The Green Line
In 1986, Capital Metro and the City of Austin acquired the a 162-mile Railroad from Giddings to Llano. Capital Metro owns a portion of this railroad that could be used as a possible Green Line from Elgin to Downtown. However, currently it is used to move freight at night. -
Capital Metro and The City of Austin Acquire The Red Line
In 1986, The City of Austin and Capital Metro acquired the The Northwestern Railroad, which would eventually become the Red Line for $9.3 million. -
Capital Metro Buys Northwestern Railroad from the City of Austin.
In 1998 Capital Metro bought the city's portion of the Northwestern Railroad for $1 million. -
Capital Metro's Ambitious 52-Mile Rail Plan Fails
In 2000 Capital Metro drew up an ambitious city wide rail system, similar to the DART. This plan failed by less than 2000 votes. The opposition was made up of people in the suburbs and bus drivers afraid of losing their jobs. -
Capital Metro Has Success on the Ballot
After their failure in 2000, Capital Metro came back with a more simple proposal for a $90 million Red Line from Leander to Downtown, plus new express bus services. -
The Red Line Opens
After years of delays, the Red Line finally opened with service from Downtown to Leander
