The Capital Metro board of directors met March 25.

Preliminary engineering is about to get underway on Capital Metro’s future Orange Line, a high-capacity, rapid-transit option that will take travelers from Tech Ridge to Southpark Meadows.The Capital Metro board of directors approved March 25 a contract for about $12 million with AECOM to conduct preliminary engineering and other research related to the proposed line.The Orange Line will begin in North Austin along North Lamar Boulevard from Tech Ridge down to South Congress Avenue and then in South Austin on Congress to Southpark Meadows on Slaughter Lane.Transit on the Orange Line will travel in its own dedicated lane. However, the official mode of transportation has not been selected. Project Connect Program Officer Dave Couch said the contract will create a locally preferred alternative and preliminary engineering for the Orange Line. It will also create an environmental impact statement.Couch said a public open house will take place at the Central Library, 710 W. Cesar Chavez St., Austin, on April 8 from 3-7 p.m. with information about the proposed Orange Line.The Orange Line is part of Project Connect, a transit map that outlines priority corridors for future bus and rail services in Central Texas. Project Connect was approved by the board in December , although funds to finance related projects have not yet been secured. Capital Metro expects an Austin ballot initiative in November 2020 asking voters to support part of the project, while federal funds could match local contributions, according to Capital Metro President and CEO Randy Clarke.