A team comprising Dutch architect UNStudio, America’s HKS and Denmark’s Gehl, has won a design contract for a 15km-long, 15-station light railway in Austin, Texas, USA.

Scheduled to open in 2033, the line will run north to south, linking the University of Texas, Downtown, East Riverside, and South Congress. In collaboration with Austin Transit Partnership, the team engaged with the local community to establish three key design principles:

• Each station will be uniquely designed to reflect its neighborhood, featuring distinct public spaces.
• The surrounding areas will incorporate tree-lined streets and shaded public spaces.
• The transit line will seamlessly connect with pedestrian pathways, cycling routes, and other transportation networks.

Phase 1 of the project will introduce a nearly 10-mile rail network with 15 stations, delivering a fresh transit experience that links major job centers, educational institutions, and Austin's most iconic destinations. In addition to the rail system, the project will feature extensive new pathways for pedestrians and cyclists, an expanded tree canopy to create shaded urban corridors, and a new bridge crossing Lady Bird Lake.