Deliver Austin's first light rail system through Project Connect, including securing federal funding to build transit infrastructure.
What was promised
What actually happened
Watson championed Project Connect and the Austin Transit Partnership reduced Phase 1 scope to fit the existing budget. The anti-displacement fund purchased the Tokyo Electron campus for $87M to build 1,100 housing units. However, the project has experienced significant scope reduction and cost overruns — the price tag grew while the footprint shrank. Federal funding has not been secured, and groundbreaking has been delayed.
Data sources: KUT, KSAT, Austin Current
Verdict: Partially Kept
Some progress was made toward this promise, but the original target was not fully met. Results fell short of the specific commitment.
Other promises from Austin
Make affordability the top priority, including increasing the senior/disabled homestead exemption and holding the line on property tax increases.
Partially KeptAddress Austin's housing affordability crisis by increasing housing supply and leveraging city-owned land for affordable development.
In Progress