Tag Archives: Capital Metro
How Capital Metro is able to offer free rides
Last month, Capital Metro announced that for the month of October, it would waive all bus and train fares as a way to encourage people to use public transit and to ease recent service interruptions. The decision to waive fees…
Transit • By Sean Saldaña • Oct 20, 2021
Council seeks clarity ahead of end-of-month transportation vote
During a joint meeting of Austin City Council and the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors, members questioned Capital Metro staff on several issues, ranging from additional public input opportunities to language in a proposed ordinance that could potentially…
Transit • By Seth Smalley • Oct 5, 2021
Capital Metro's driver shortage continues
At Monday’s meeting of the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors, members discussed the transit agency’s critical scarcity of bus drivers. “As this board has been previously briefed, we are experiencing a significant shortage of bus operators,” said Dottie…
Transit • By Seth Smalley • Sep 28, 2021
Capital Metro board votes to establish transit police force
The board governing the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority voted overwhelmingly Monday to move forward with establishing a transit police department. The process is expected to take more than 18 months and will include outreach to skeptical members of the public.…
Transit • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Aug 31, 2021
Cap Metro unveils funding forecast for next five years
On Wednesday, the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors took a long look at the upcoming fiscal year, from the projected costs of Project Connect’s rail lines to expanded bus routes and their associated infrastructural costs. Over the next…
Transit • By Seth Smalley • Aug 19, 2021
Cap Metro fields updates on Project Connect
During the July 19 meeting of the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors, members fielded a discussion and presentation regarding Project Connect. The presentation covered prominent dates; Blue, Orange and Red rail line updates; and MetroRapid bus line updates.…
Transit • By Seth Smalley • Jul 21, 2021
Subscribe to our newsletter
Austin's downtown rail plans shifted after bill allowing transit under parks failed to pass
The crown jewel of Austin’s $7 billion transit expansion is the city’s first-ever underground light rail system through the middle of downtown, a state-of-the-art transit corridor down Fourth Street bookended by Republic Square Park on the west and Brush Square…
Transit • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Jul 14, 2021
How Cap Metro's multibillion-dollar transit expansion hinges on federal racial equity standards
The largest expansion of public transit in Austin’s history is built on an expectation the federal government will pick up almost half of the $7 billion tab. To qualify for those billions, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority first must demonstrate it’s…
Transit • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Jul 6, 2021
Cap Metro board fields 2022 budgetary updates
At the June 28 meeting of the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors, members fielded budgetary updates for the 2022 fiscal year. Deputy CFO Kevin Conlan presented the broad budgetary developments, important assumptions as they relate to budget, expenses,…
Budget • By Seth Smalley • Jul 1, 2021
Cap Metro proceeds with vision of sustainability
At the June 28 Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority board meeting, board members fielded discussion on a yearslong sustainability and planning effort put forward by Capital Metro staffers. Most of the presentation centered around the structure and vision of the plan,…
Transit • By Seth Smalley • Jun 29, 2021
Want free entry to Barton Springs? Take the bus.
The Zilker Park road loop will be closed from July 6-30 pending construction of new tracks for the fully electric Zilker Eagle, the train formerly known as the Zilker Zephyr. Following slope failure at the previous turnaround (due to erosion from rain),…
Transportation • By Seth Smalley • Jun 28, 2021
Brand refresh ushers Cap Metro into coming decade
At the May 24 meeting of the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors, Brian Carter, whose title is chief experience and engagement officer, presented the transit agency’s brand refresh proposal to board members. “Over the last couple of years,…
