Background

Project Connect will expand Austin’s public transit system. More rail and bus options in Austin will help people to get to their jobs, schools, and families.  However, improvements that come with new transportation infrastructure can also lead to an increase in the cost of living.  This can make Austin even more unaffordable to those who live here.    

Voters approved $7.1 billion for Project Connect in November 2020. Proposition A included $300 million for anti-displacement work. This funding will be invested over 13 years and will help affordable areas remain affordable to the people who want to stay. Investments are focused on preventing displacement in vulnerable areas near transit lines.

How has the community been involved? 

Nothing About Us Without Us
Before beginning the allocation of the anti-displacement dollars, the City convened a group of 30 community members who were at risk of displacement to help guide how the dollars should be spent. The group produced the Nothing About Us Without Us report, which outlines a path toward preventing displacement of the people who are most at risk. The first two years of funding were informed by the report, prioritizing displacement prevention strategies in areas with the most need. 

Community Initiated Solutions
$20 million of the first round of funding was designated for community-led programs to address displacement pressures. Community organizations were invited to propose innovative ways to use the funding, and a panel of community members evaluated the applications. 13 organizations were selected and all in the process of implementing their programs. 

Community Initiated Solutions (CIS) Programs | AustinTexas.gov

Budget Priorities
In fall of 2022, the Project Connect Community Advisory Committee (CAC) began the process to make recommendations for the next 3 years of funding. The CAC hosted a series of meetings to consult with the community. The feedback from those meetings is summarized in the report below.