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Stories by Nathan Bernier, KUT

CapMetro's secret fight to fix a broken fare system

For months, Capital Metro passengers knew something wasn’t right. The QR code scanners they used to pay fares with phones were unreliable, sometimes not working at all. Riders would often board without paying, flagged on by the driver to keep…

Transit • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Feb 28, 2025

Austin's new CapMetro Rapid lines debut with buses every 20 minutes

Capital Metro rolled out its long-awaited Rapid lines this weekend, but “rapid” for now will mean a 20- to 30-minute wait for the next bus. Originally slated for 2023 with ambitious plans for an all-electric fleet, 10-minute frequency and end-of-line park and rides,…

Transit • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Feb 24, 2025

South Austin's newest trail is under construction. Will the Trump administration help pay for it?

An abandoned railroad line in South Austin is being converted into a trail for pedestrians and cyclists, with the first section set to open next year. But uncertainty surrounding the Trump administration’s freeze on federal grants has cast doubt on…

Transportation • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Feb 5, 2025

Austin unveils how light-rail could change the city in new report with detailed maps

The curtain is finally lifting on Austin’s long-planned light-rail system, as a newly released report from the Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) reveals a more detailed vision for the 9.8-mile route. For the first time, Austinites can view block-by-block maps, see specific station…

Transit • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Jan 13, 2025

CapMetro bringing tap-to-pay to Austin’s buses and trains by March

Hopping on a Capital Metro bus or train should soon be as easy as tapping a credit or debit card. In March, the regional transit agency will part ways with its unreliable QR code-based fare system and switch to tap-to-pay technology.…

Transit • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Jan 10, 2025

Most Austin-area drivers will still need a vehicle inspection. Here's where the rules have changed.

Mandatory vehicle safety inspections have been eliminated for many Texas drivers. But in 17 counties – including Travis and Williamson – an emissions test is still required to renew your vehicle registration every year. The changes, which took effect Jan. 1,…

Transportation • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Jan 9, 2025

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Austin's airport has a critical shortage of air traffic controllers approaching the holidays

Retired librarian Carolyn Foote was craving an easy, three-hour flight home to Austin on Sunday after a weekend library conference in Raleigh, North Carolina. Instead, she found herself stuck in a cramped terminal at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, surrounded by crowds…

Transportation • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Dec 12, 2024

TxDOT wants to keep approving its own federal environmental reviews

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is asking the federal government to let the state continue to approve its own environmental reviews – a delegated authority intended to fast-track highway projects. The public has until Monday night to weigh in on the arrangement…

Roads • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Dec 9, 2024

I-35 caps plan reconsidered as cost estimates soar by 61%

Austin’s transformational plan to cover parts of Interstate 35 with parks and public spaces, intended to bridge the divide between east and west neighborhoods, is facing a financial reckoning as estimated costs soar and city staff warn the project could drain…

Roads • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Nov 21, 2024

Cap Metro to shelve 46 new electric buses for a year after manufacturer bankruptcy

Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority will put 46 brand-new electric buses in storage for at least a year, the latest fallout from an electrification goal the transit agency now admits was overly ambitious. The main problem, Capital Metro’s leadership says, has…

Transit • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Nov 19, 2024

Thousands of Austin's bats will be displaced by I-35 expansion

The expansion of Interstate 35 through Austin is set to displace more than 100 homes and businesses. But an even larger community is being forced to relocate: thousands of bats that roost in the highway’s bridges. While the Texas Department of…

Transportation • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Nov 1, 2024

Cap Metro to build second set of train tracks in East Austin

Capital Metro is planning to build a second set of train tracks along the Red Line in East Austin along with new sidewalks, pedestrian crossings and another platform at Plaza Saltillo Station. A second set of tracks – known as…

Transit • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Oct 30, 2024

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