Austin’s light rail project, known as Project Connect , has been marked a priority by the Federal Transit Administration , paving the way for on-time construction of the city’s multibillion dollar transit initiative.

Explained

Overseen by the Austin Transit Partnership , the first phase of Austin’s light rail project has cleared a major federal milestone, ATP CEO Greg Canally told Community Impact in late November. The FTA gave the project a "Medium-High" overall rating in its fiscal year 2026-27 funding recommendations —the highest given during this year’s large project evaluation.

For any major infrastructure project in the United States, navigating the federal funding process is a rigorous journey where every step is scrutinized, Canally explained.

Securing a strong FTA ra

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