Two of Austin's transit hubs are getting a makeover. City Council has approved vision plans for the North Lamar and South Congress Transit Centers, which will update the stations and the areas around them in a half-mile radius. Once completed, these upgrades could serve as a model for other stations around the city.

There are 2,500 bus stops in Austin, but only 26 Park & Rides or transit centers. Park & Rides occur at the end of lines, making it possible for people who live outside of walking distance of the bus system to use it anyway; transit centers are places where multiple lines cross.

The North Lamar Transit Center is located at 8001 US-183, where West Anderson Lane and Research Boulevard meet, and the South Congress Transit Center is located at 8001 US-183, along the south side of Ben White Boulevard. Right now, both stations are relatively nondescript with parking lots, covered waiting areas, and some trees.

Conversely, the vision plans are deeply detailed, marking businesses and other developments nearby, recording data from community outreach, and providing case studies from other cities. Both the North Lamar document and the South Congress document are 53 pages long.

There are many details to go over, but a general idea is overlaid onto these renderings from each document:

A look at a potential North Lamar Transit Center.Rendering by Perkins&Will, from City of Austin's North Lamar Transit Center Station Area Vision Plan

Included above:

• Directional signs
• First- and last-mile transportation
• Active storefronts
• Weather-protected transit shelter
• CapMetro amenities center
• Mixed-income housing
• Tree-lined streets
• Grocery store and neighborhood services
• Raised crosswalk
• Stormwater management features

A look at a potential South Congress Transit Center.Rendering by Perkins&Will, from City of Austin's South Lamar Transit Center Station Area Vision Plan

Included above:

• First- and last-mile transportation
• Active storefronts
• CapMetro amenities center
• Mixed-income housing
• Tree-lined streets
• Raised crosswalk
• Stormwater management features
• Active lifestyle infrastructure
• Bergstrom Spur Trail
• Informal food carts
• Small business and workforce training spaces

A newsletter from the City of Austin points out that these are two of its most-used transit hubs, and that the goal of updating them is to create "vibrant communities in which Austinites of all backgrounds can live, work, and relax." Some more specific goals are increasing walkability and adding affordable housing.

“Our planning teams worked hard over two years to gather and incorporate feedback from the communities surrounding these two transit centers,” said Austin Planning Department director Lauren Middleton-Pratt in the newsletter. “Through close collaboration with the Austinites who live, work, and travel around these neighborhoods and transit centers, we’ve put together a pair of blueprints for growth that expands accessibility, equity, and affordability.”

The City and CapMetro have collected feedback on the project from community members since 2023. Anyone who would like to offer their input can sign up to receive updates via publicinput.com.

“The approval of these vision plans is a significant milestone for CapMetro and the future of the City of Austin,” said CapMetro executive vice president and chief strategic planning and development officer Sharmila Mukherjee. “By developing the areas around both the North Lamar Transit Center and South Congress Transit Center, we can intentionally grow alongside our region, while simultaneously increasing access to public transportation to better serve our community.”