At its Monday meeting, the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors unanimously approved Dottie Watkins, deputy CEO of Capital Metro, to step into the role of interim chief executive officer of the transit organization. Watkins will lead Capital Metro until the board of directors decides on a permanent candidate to replace the current CEO […]
Capital Metro
The city’s urban transportation system.
Posted inBicycles
MetroBike program gears up for 10-year expansion project
Cyclists can expect to see expanded bike-share infrastructure roll out in the next few years, as the team behind the city’s MetroBike program prepares to bring an updated interlocal agreement to City Council this summer. Since 2013, MetroBike (formerly B-cycle) has relied on nonprofit-run Bike Share of Austin to manage daily operations. Now, Capital Metropolitan […]
Posted inTransit
Cap Metro CEO departs, leaving two Austin transit organizations without permanent leadership
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO Randy Clarke will leave Austin to head the public transit agency in Washington, D.C. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced this morning Clarke will take over in late summer as general manager and CEO. Clarke’s five-year agreement with WMATA includes an annual salary of $485,000 and a $4,000/month housing allowance […]
Posted inTransit
After Leander vote secures transit service, Cap Metro looks to ‘win over’ skeptics
Now that Capital Metro service in Leander is secure for at least five years following Saturday’s election, the regional transit agency wants to get opponents on board with spending a 1 percent sales tax on public transit. Proposition A asked Leander voters whether to cancel transit service and stop paying the tax to Capital Metro. […]
Posted inTransit
Austin Transit Partnership to seek new executive director
The board of directors of the Austin Transit Partnership, the entity formed by the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the city to design and build the Project Connect transit system, will consider a resolution next week to launch the process of finding a new executive director for ATP. Randy Clarke, who is the president and […]
Posted inTransportation
Don’t expect traffic problems around Circuit of the Americas to be fixed anytime soon
For the last 10 years, Circuit of the Americas has drawn thousands of people to major events, from races like the U.S. Grand Prix and MotoGP to concerts by megastars like Elton John and Kendrick Lamar, helping to pump millions of tourist dollars into the local economy while thrilling fans with A-list entertainment. The 1,500-acre […]
Posted inAustin
St. Edward’s students lead effort to tackle food accessibility in Austin
Students at St. Edward’s University’s Civics Lab are seeking to bring a class project to fruition this year, even if the work extends far beyond the classroom. Following a year of policy development and advocacy led by political science professor Dr. David Thomason, student Benjamin Alford addressed the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors […]
Posted inTransit
Transit riders could pay less under new fare proposal by Cap Metro
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority is planning to roll out a new fare system this fall that would limit how much people pay to ride the bus or train. Riders using a new smartphone app or fare card – branded as Amp – would stop being charged after paying the equivalent of a day pass in […]
Posted inTransportation
Roadway changes coming soon to a transit corridor near you
Transit authorities convened Wednesday morning to announce several long-anticipated city changes to clear the way for the Orange and Blue lines, two stretches of light rail that are part of Project Connect, the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s multibillion-dollar transit infrastructure project. The changes in question? Left turns are going away at many of the intersections that […]
Posted inTransit
Cap Metro service changes disproportionately affect poor people
During last week’s board meeting, Capital Metro officials revealed poor populations were more affected by service changes in certain commuter lines. However, due to existing alternate routes, the transit agency plans to keep the changes in place. The analysis examined specific bus route reductions and adjustments implemented by the transit agency over the last few […]
Posted inTransit
Community weighs in on governance of ATP, Cap Metro
At least 165 community members participated Tuesday night in the first of two virtual meetings designed to gather feedback about the future of Austin’s Project Connect, which is currently in the design stage. In addition to specific questions about where the different lines will be built, groups such as the Austin Justice Coalition and People […]
Posted inTransit
Cap Metro tries to keep Leander in transit system by offering infrastructure funding
In an attempt to keep Leander from holding an election on whether to cut ties with Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the regional transit agency’s board of directors voted unanimously Monday to sweeten its deal with the suburban community. Under the new proposal, Leander would get access to almost $2 million in infrastructure funding this year and […]