Setting the urban and architectural design standard for Austin Light Rail

America’s newest transit system

Together with our partners, Gehl developed the design framework for a human-centered light rail system that drives high ridership and supports a vision for where Austin is headed: a thriving twenty-first century city with a unique and beloved culture. Gehl worked closely with the client, engineering teams, partner agencies, and a series of focus groups to deliver a Research and Vision document that communicates the intent of the system to the public, and guides design teams to create a system built around human comfort, human behavior, and public life.

Gehl led an innovative research approach to arrive at the vision for Austin Light Rail. The team integrated detailed, experience-focused site understanding (from shade and sidewalk quality to public art and local culture) with public life counts and cognitive experience mapping in hot and mild climates to provide a rich and people-focused picture of the opportunities and challenges of transit in Austin. The team synthesized the analysis into a series of user personas and journeys, a vision, user needs, and performance-based design principles. The concept design pays special attention to last-mile connections, urban integration, user experience design, and integrating community input into the plans through a co-creative process.

Austin Light Rail offers much more than just a way to travel from point A to point B, it will provide transit access to over 200,000 jobs, create extensive new pedestrian and cyclist paths, and new neighborhood hubs while reducing commuting expenses.

Advisors

HKS: JV and Design Partner, Gehl: Public Realm and Community Engagement, RIOS: Landscape Architecture Lead, Studio Balcones: Landscape Architecture Local, Atelier Ten: Lighting Design, CMPBS: Sustainability Consultant, Mijksenaar: Wayfinding Consultant, Alvarez Consulting: Community Outreach, Walter P Moore: Structural Engineering Lead, Façade, and Physical Security, LEAP: Structural Engineering Local, Salas O’Brian: Mechanical & Plumbing Engineering, Security, Acoustics, Technology Consultants, Volt Air: Electrical Engineering and Fire Protection, Sunland: Cost Consultancy, Garza EMC: Civil Engineering, Kimley Horn: Traffic and Environmental Engineering, Access by Design: Accessibility Consultant

“Urban integration and user experience design shouldn’t be an afterthought in transit design. In Austin, we studied the behaviors around existing bus stops that will become transit stations. Where do passengers choose to wait? Who is there and who might be missing? We integrated insights from this user research process early to set the parameters for future design and engineering teams. This will ensure there is space for off-platform waiting and amenities, a new signature greenway in Austin, and station areas that benefit from Light Rail. We have been proud to collaborate with this world class team and bring our signature human-centered lens to guide this design process.”

Anna Muessig, Senior Project Director, Partner