ATP Releases Final Environmental Impact Statement / Record of Decision

Austin Light Rail Phase I formally entered the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process in January 2024 and is the first major transit project to complete a Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS), the most complex form of environmental review, within the required federal two-year timeline.

The Final EIS presents an extensive study of the project’s potential environmental, social, and economic impacts as well as ATP’s commitment to address those effects. The Final EIS also includes responses to each individual public comment received on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) during the 60-day public comment period that occurred January-March 2025 and shares some design refinements made since the Draft EIS was released.

Final Environmental Impact Statement / Record of Decision

• Record of Decision
• Cover
• Abstract
• Executive Summary
• Table of Contents
• Letter to Interested Parties
• Chapter 1 – Purpose and Need
• Chapter 2 – Alternatives Considered
• Chapter 3 – Transportation
• Chapter 4 – Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
• Chapter 5 – Cumulative and Indirect Impacts (Content Removed)
• Chapter 6 – Environmental Justice (Content Removed)
• Chapter 7 – Public and Agency Coordination
• References
• List of Preparers
• Appendix A –Alternatives Development and Analysis
• Appendix B – Scoping Summary Report
  • Attachment A. DEIS Public Engagement Summary
• Appendix C – Conceptual Design Drawings
• Appendix D – Transportation
  • Attachment A. 38^th Street Memo
  • Attachment B. North Shore Memo
• Appendix E – Built & Social Environment Reports
  • E-1. Acquisitions and Displacements Technical Report
  • E-2. Land Use and Zoning Technical Report
  • E-3. Neighborhoods and Community Resources Technical Report
    • Attachment A. Neighborhood Tables and Attachment B. Large-Format Figures
  • E-4. Socioeconomics Technical Report
  • E-5. Visuals and Aesthetics Technical Report
  • E-6. Built Environment Survey Report
    • Attachment E. THC Historic Resources Survey Forms
    • Attachment F. THC Historic Resources Survey Forms pt. 2
  • E-7. Archaeological Survey Report
  • E-8. Hazardous Materials Technical Report
    • Attachment A. EDR Report
    • Attachment B. Site Reconnaissance Photographs and Attachment C. Maps
  • E-9. Utilities Technical Report
    • Attachment A. Utility Rules of Practice
  • E-10. Safety and Security Technical Report
• Appendix F – Natural Resources
  • F-1. Air Quality Technical Report
  • F-2. Energy and Electromagnetic Fields Technical Report
    • Attachment A. Electromagnetic Interference White Paper
  • F-3. Soils and Geologic Resources Technical Report
  • F-4. Water Resources Technical Report
    • Attachment A. Lady Bird Lake Bridge Project –  Aquatic Resources Delineation Report and Proposed Jurisdictional Analysis
      • Attachment A. Study Area Figures
      • Attachment B. Maps and Photographs
      • Attachment C. Wetland Determination Data Documentation
    • Attachment B. Austin Light Rail Project – Aquatic Resources Delineation Report and Proposed Jurisdictional Analysis
  • F-5. Threatened and Endangered Species Technical Report
• Appendix G – Section 4(f) and Chapter 26 Evaluations
  • Attachments A, B, and C
• Appendix H – Section 6(f) Evaluation
  • Attachment A
  • Attachment B
  • Attachment C
  • Attachment D
• Appendix I – Noise and Vibration
• Appendix J – Construction Methods and Activities
• Appendix K – Agency Coordination
• Appendix L – Response to DEIS Comments
• Appendix M – Mitigation Monitoring Plan
  • Attachment 1. Comprehensive Tree Manual
  • Attachment 2. TPWD Letter to FTA Regarding Austin Light Rail Phase I
  • Attachment 3. Programmatic Agreement

Project Maps

Project maps studied in the EIS can be found in Appendix C.

Previous Steps in NEPA Process

• Draft EIS
• Scoping Report (English | Spanish)
• Notice of Intent

Additional Documents

View additional relevant documents

More About NEPA

Enacted into law in 1970, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a federally mandated public planning process for projects involving federal funds or federal involvement. NEPA requires federal agencies to incorporate environmental considerations into their planning and decision-making through a systematic and interdisciplinary approach. Compliance with NEPA is required for Austin Light Rail Phase 1 because we are pursuing federal grant funding from the Federal Transit Administration.