In 2025, we made great progress on key steps, including securing funding for the Red Line Parkway Community Vision and Implementation Strategy. Our work is described in four program areas: Plan, Fund, Build, and Activate. Our 2025 programming expenses for each area was 26%, 25%, 31%, and 19%, respectively.

Plan

We hosted our first out-of-state speaker, Clyde Higgs, President & CEO of Atlanta Beltline Inc., at our annual State of the Parkway to help illustrate the economic development and community benefits potential of the Red Line Parkway for our neighborhoods and region.

We finalized the project proposal for the Red Line Parkway Community Vision and Implementation Strategy in concert with agency and community stakeholders. See more under the Fund section.

Fund

We secured $30MM+ from the City of Austin to build the foundations for land bridges over I-35, also known as “caps and stitches”, for both Red Line Parkway crossings: at 4th Street and near 43rd Street. See more under the Build section.

We were awarded $2MM of federal Transportation Alternatives funding by TxDOT for the Red Line Parkway Community Vision and Implementation Strategy, to be developed from 2026 through 2028. This builds off of the 2024 CapMetro Red Line Trail Study and will create the first-ever community vision for the Red Line Parkway, determine an end-to-end trail alignment, secure the space needed for the trail and linear park, identify funding for timeline-constrained implementation, and determine implementation roles and next steps.

We secured $1MM in the CTRMA (Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority) FY26 budget for standalone trail projects, building off of a years-long effort with Austin Outside coalition allies.

We presented to and worked with Austin Bond Election Advisory Task Force members to help ensure inclusion of urban trails funding in the proposed November 2026 bond election.

Build

We filled trail gaps as part of upcoming projects in the Plaza Saltillo, Cherrywood, Koenig Lane, Highland, Wooten, North Burnet, and Lakeline areas.

We ensured that the design for the I-35 Northern Stitches continued to include a land bridge over I-35 for the Red Line Parkway near 43rd Street. See more under the Fund section.

Activate

We broadened our reach through trail activation events and presenting to more community groups.