Austin receives $1.5M for affordable housing near Crestview Station

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AUSTIN (KXAN) — CapMetro is receiving $1.5 million in federal funding to help support affordable housing development near Crestview Station, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) announced Monday.

The funding came courtesy the Federal Transit Administration's Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning. The City of Austin and CapMetro will partner on the affordable housing and infrastructure development work along a 5.5-acre tract of land next to the Crestview Station in north Austin.

“With our booming tech industry, thriving cultural scene, and world-class innovation attracting so many more businesses and residents, affordability and mobility have become two of our greatest challenges,” Doggett said in the release. “This federal investment responds by supporting important local efforts led by Capital Metro to offer improved access for affordable housing residents in North Central Austin with a focus on Crestview, a key transfer point for CapMetro rail and bus." 

The planning stage of the development "will determine how an expansion of the Crestview station will increase ridership as well as potential service impacts, platform design and light rail transit connectivity," per the release.

The FTA's Pilot Program for Transit-Oriented Development Planning is centered around improving multimodal transit use and accessibility for local communities. It also hones in on improving pedestrian and bicycle traffic resources and championing mixed-use development opportunities near transit stations, per the release.

“Our Federal, State and Local leaders, as well as the Federal Transit Administration, continue to support our region's commitment to inclusive transit and responsible land use," said Dottie Watkins, president and CEO at CapMetro, in the release. "We look forward to partnering with Austin Housing Finance Corp. to create a multi-modal transit station, linking commuter rail, bus, and future transit expansion projects to support the growing Crestview Station area.”