Planning for Austin light rail airport extension

Flying out of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport could be a little simpler in the next few years. Instead of paying to park or taking an Uber, the city has new plans on how you can get dropped off at the airport. Fox 7 Austin's Dominique Leigh is live at ABIA right now with the very latest. Dominique. Yeah, Alec, the Austin Light Rail is meant to make traveling through the city quicker, faster, more convenient. And it turns out people of Austin also want a faster, quicker, more convenient way to get to and from the airport. And the Austin Transit is looking to make that happen. Austin's light rail phase one is expected to be a nine and a half, 9.8 mile stretch running through the center of Austin to UT and down South Congress. That's expected to break ground in 2027. Now it's initiating an extension to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. According to Austin Transit Partnership, that three mile extension is meant to increase mobility capacity and mobility choices and improve reliability in getting to the airport for both passengers and the airport workforce. ATP says it's critical that the Austin Airport designs the new arrivals and departures hall with the Austin Light Rail in mind for a seamless experience. ATP will also work with TxDOT for planned improvements along State Highway 71. Now, ATP is hoping that this planning process is going to be taking the next 9 to 12 months and throughout that planning process, they're going to be looking at different funding costs like federal funding. Dominique, you're obviously at the airport right now. Did you talk with anyone there on how they're feeling about this possible light rail? Yeah, I got a plethora of responses. So you've got some people talking about how if this is going to be cheaper than an Uber, then yeah, they're going to take it. Then you've got other people saying that this light rail is long overdue. And then you have others saying that this is going to be an eyesore. The construction is going to be tough. And then you have other people thinking about the logistics of this. When you're getting on this light rail, what is the parking situation going to look like? So people are hoping that if this is done, that it's done right, Alec.