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 five years, all capital projects are expected to cost $806 million, with the primary cost […]
Capital Metro
The city’s urban transportation system.
Posted inTransit
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. The Orange Line will run north and south through the center of the city, sharing […]
Posted inTransit
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 Park on the east. But local officials, who this week are outlining the most detailed vision […]
Posted inTransit
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 not discriminating on the basis of race, national origin or income through a range of […]
Posted inBudget
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, service priorities, and major revenue and cost drivers. Notable costs included Broadmoor rail development, electric bus […]
Posted inTransit
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, but did not yet address many specific, measurable goals. “So we’ve been doing a lot […]
Posted inTransportation
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), the new turnaround will be located at Lou Neff Point, where Barton Creek meets Lady […]
Posted inTransit
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, several years, we’ve been noticing that there’s a need for us to take another look […]
Posted inTransit
Cap Metro board fields updates on Project Connect
At the May 24 Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors meeting, board members heard updates on the progress of Project Connect. Presenters displayed images of partial plans for the Blue Line – called “15 percent design drawings” – and said that they would soon receive similar plans for the Orange Line. “We’ve been working […]
Posted inBudget
Budget report reveals Capital Metro has money to spare
On May 12, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority CFO Reinet Marneweck presented the financial report for the 2021 fiscal year to the Capital Metro Board of Directors. The report covered revenue, operating expenses and Capital Metro sales tax as they relate to budgeting in the company at large. “Seeing as we’re about 50 percent into the […]
Posted inTransit
Capital Metro considers in-house police force
Last year, Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO Randy Clarke asked the American Public Transportation Association to convene a peer review of Capital Metro’s public safety program, one of a variety of services provided by APTA. The methodology of the review included interviews with board members, committee members, committee chairs, union members, and an acting chief […]
Posted inTransit
Early work happening now to build Austin’s first modern light rail lines
Austin has never had modern light rail before. It won’t for a while. The Orange and Blue lines are projected to open to the public in 2029. The rail lines are just part of a multibillion-dollar plan approved by voters in November called Project Connect. Crews already finished taking soil samples under Lady Bird Lake […]