Austin FC To Pay Back $3.6 million For New CapMetro Train Station

AUSTIN, TX —Capital Metro has approved a contract agreement that stipulates Austin FC will pay back about $3.6 million for construction on McKalla Station, which is expected to open in 2023.

CapMetro's Board of Directors approved the contract Monday, which states Austin FC will help pay some of the costs of the new rail station. McKalla station, which will begin construction in 2022, will be located south of Braker Lane near the club's North Austin home.

The station is estimated to cost about $24 million, although that number is subject to change, officials said. Austin FC is expected to take on $3.64 million of the expenses.

The funds aren't expected to come all out at once for the Major League Soccer Club.

According to the agreement, the club will put $640,000 in an escrow account, which Capital Metro will then be able to use for bus and transit facilities near the stadium. Austin FC will pay the remaining $3 million in installments of $200,000 per year over 15 years, starting in spring 2022.

Austin FC agreed to the financial arrangement when it signed a lease agreement with the city of Austin in 2018, according to Community Impact.

Capital Metro plans to decommission its existing Kramer Station once McKalla Station and another new MetroRail stop opens within the next two years, officials said.

Authorities said Monday it plans to restart its Saturday service on May 29, three weeks prior to Austin FC's home opener, in hopes to increase frequency on its bus routes that serve the area near Q2 Stadium, including the MetroRapid 803 route and the MetroBus 3, 383 and 392 services.

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