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Austin Light Rail vehicle design to advance under $39M contract with Stadler

Switzerland-based Stadler has been selected to deliver the train cars for Austin Light Rail, the third and final major vendor brought on for the project's first stages before construction begins next year.

The details: Officials with the Austin Transit Partnership, the entity overseeing the transit program, advanced a $39 million contract with Stadler to design the vehicles July 15.

The fully electric vehicles will be roughly 120 feet long with capacity for 240 or more passengers, and can be coupled for special events. Designs will allow for greater rider accessibility, with level boarding access and low floors throughout most of the car area to avoid steps.

The initial $39 million authorized in July is one piece of an overall $352.8 million initiative to design, build and test Austin Light Rail vehicles for delivery in the 2030s.

 
On The Business Beat
Banfield Pet Hospital closes East Austin location

Banfield Pet Hospital closed its location at 1211 E. Fifth St., Ste. 140, Austin, in the Plaza Saltillo development in March, according to a social post from the hospital.

Some context: The location opened in late December 2021 and most recently operated as a dedicated dental and routine surgical procedure site for the veterinary chain's Austin-area patients, according to the company's website and previous Community Impact reporting.

Banfield Pet Hospital, owned by Mars Veterinary Health, operates several other Austin-area locations, including clinics in North, Northeast, South and Central Austin.

 

Your Weekend To-Do List

Check out these weekend events across the metro area.

'Singin’ in the Rain'

Hot Summer Nights

July 10-Aug. 15
Austin

July 16-18, times vary
Austin

More info

More info

 

Artemis Generation: NASA’s Next Giant Leap

From Balconies to Backyards

July 18, 1-2:30 p.m.
Round Rock

July 18, 1-7 p.m.
Georgetown

More info

More info

 
To submit your own event, click here.

CI Texas
What to know about the state response to heavy rainfall, flash flooding across Texas

As heavy rain and flash flooding threatens large swaths of South and Central Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott spoke to reporters about the state's preparation for and response to the severe weather July 15.

The big picture: The heaviest rainfall is occurring in southwest Texas, according to the National Weather Service, with 10-15 inches of rain expected through July 16 along the U.S. 90 corridor west of San Antonio. As of 2:40 p.m. July 15, all or parts of 14 counties were under a flash flood warning, including Comal, Hays and Bexar counties.

The city of New Braunfels announced several road closures July 15, and the city closed recreational access to the Comal River due to continued rainfall and rising water levels, Community Impact reported.

The severe weather came just over a year after historic flooding killed more than 130 people in Central Texas on July 4-5, 2025.

More details: Dozens of other counties were under flood watches, advisories and warnings. Fifty-nine counties were also under a state disaster declaration as of July 14.

 

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Krista Box
General Manager

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