LIGHT RAIL PLAN COULD FORCE CLOSURE OF JD’S SUPERMARKET ON RIVERSIDE

The Big Picture

The Austin light rail project may force closure of JD’s Supermarket at the corner of Montopolis Drive and East Riverside Drive, a store leaders say is a key grocery for the Montopolis neighborhood. Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) has identified a future light rail station near Riverside and Montopolis as one of 15 station locations and told JD’s in March that part of the property may be needed for the project. JD’s management warns losing an affiliated gas station that supplies roughly 30% of the supermarket’s sales could push the store into "survival mode" and eventually closure.

Only ATP’s design work is not final, and the agency says the published January design does not require displacing the supermarket building itself.

We are watching a transit plan collide with a neighborhood business whose leaders say it feeds low-income families; the stakes are both economic and local-food-access oriented.

What Changed

ATP sent a letter in March notifying JD’s that a portion of their property "will be needed for the proposed transit project," and that occupants may be displaced and could be entitled to relocation assistance. Since then, JD’s has produced a site plan showing the area ATP may need and has quantified the potential immediate revenue impact: staff say the gas station contributes about 30% of supermarket sales and that the store brings in approximately $661,343 in tax revenue, with the fueling footprint projected to account for about $64,600 of that figure.

ATP responded that the January design does not displace JD’s and that, if a partial right-of-way acquisition is needed to move sidewalk or overhead distribution poles closer to the building, it would not block access or require acquisition of the building; ATP also said it will continue to assess mitigation and engage property owners and community members.

What's Next

JD’s organized a community meeting where leaders and residents voiced opposition and called on ATP to avoid taking the fueling footprint; state Rep. Lulu Flores said her office will engage while remaining publicly pro–light rail but critical of impacts that could spur displacement. The story is developing; ATP notes designs are ongoing and community engagement will continue. The KXAN report does not provide a firm construction timeline, a final station footprint, or specific dates for eminent domain actions.

Only one thing is certain right now: the design is negotiable, and the neighborhood has made clear it intends to keep JD’s in place.