Georgetown Edition | August 2022

INSIDE INFORMATION

COMPILED BY BRIAN RASH & HUNTER TERRELL

PUBLIC TRANSIT Local

Facilities within CAPITAL METRO ’ S SERVICE AREA

In its latest iteration, Project Connect is a $7.1 billion public transit initiative from the regional transportation entity Capital Metro. The eort will bring new and upgraded elements, including MetroBus, MetroRail, pickup ride-hailing zones, and bicycle and pedestrian zones. Project Connect will also reach some cities outside of Austin, with the potential for more to join. However, there are plans underway and potential options for public transit outside Austin that are both a part of Project Connect and not aliated with the project. SOURCE: CAPITAL METROCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

Bus stops: 2,400

Park & Rides: 17 CENTERS Freight rail: 162 MILES between Giddings and Llano

along 32 miles of track between Leander and downtown Austin Commuter rail: 9 STATIONS

Capital Metro is a transportation taxing entity that connects people by providing several transportation options throughout the Austin metro. It was established by a voter referendum Jan. 19, 1985. It is funded largely through a 1% sales tax levied by members of its service area, and outside of Austin, it has six other member cities and services parts of Travis and Williamson Counties. MEMBER CITIES To become a member of Capital Metro, a local government must hold an election. If the election passes, the city becomes a member and pays $0.01 of every $1 in sales tax revenue to Capital Metro. Often, cities must reduce some other portion of their budget to compensate for the membership requirements. NONMEMBER CITIES PLANS UNDERWAY Beyond member cities, Capital Metro sta is working with sta in several nonmember cities to come up with contracted services for bus and door-to-door transit service. NONMEMBER CITIES POTENTIAL Capital Metro has met with some nonmember cities to determine potential and interest in public transit programs, but so far no action has been taken. CAPITAL METRO? WHAT IS COURTESY CAPITAL METRO

GEORGETOWN

130 TOLL

26 STATION PAIRS MetroRapid:

LEANDER

HUTTO

along each of the two MetroRapid bus corridors—North Lamar to South Congress and from The Domain to the Westgate Transit Center CENTRAL TEXAS METRORAIL BEYOND AUSTIN CITY LIMITS Capital Metro owns two rail lines that run outside of Austin, including a station in Leander on the Red Line and an upcoming station in Manor supporting the Green Line. Capital Metro is working to build funds for the extensions.

183

JONESTOWN

ROUND ROCK

45 TOLL

LAGO VISTA

PFLUGERVILLE

POINT VENTURE

LAKEWAY

290

LEANDER

MOPAC

MANOR

AUSTIN

130 TOLL

290

183

Red Line Green Line

SAN LEANNA

45 TOLL

BUDA

183

130 TOLL

KYLE

MAP NOT TO SCALE

Round Rock has contracts with Capital Metro for three internal bus lines and a line connecting riders to Austin.

Pugerville has a pilot program to pick up riders that covers most of the city and connects riders to a Park & Ride station at Tech Ridge.

Capital Metro is working with Georgetown sta to oer a door- to-door transit service for people with disabilities.

290

MOPAC

MANOR

AUSTIN

183

CONTRACT HOURS

Providing

AVERAGE MONTHLY RIDERSHIP

PUBLIC TRANSIT IN GEORGETOWN

The city’s agreement allots for about 4,800 service hours, but projections show it will use half of them.

Average monthly ridership on Capital Metro’s paratransit declined in scal year 2020-21 compared to 2019-20.

Since 2017, Capital Metro has provided a paratransit service, or door-to- door service for disabled residents, in Georgetown through an interlocal agreement. Georgetown City Council met June 28 to review the annual contract and consider upgrading it. Jack Daly, Georgetown’s assistant public works director, said the agreement allots for a total of 4,782 service hours in scal year 2022-23 but expects 2,400 hours will be used. He is considering ways to increase the city’s number of rides, including expanding the service

to residents age 65 and older as well as visitors who meet certain eligibility requirements. Georgetown’s paratransit service, which is run by the Capital Area Rural Transportation System as a subcontractor for Capital Metro, provides curb-to-curb service from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday. Eligible riders pay $2 each way and must make a reservation 24 hours in advance through the website or by calling 512-478-7433. Eligibility and screening for paratransit services is due Oct. 1.

FY 2022-23

2,400 Projected hours used

FY 2019-20

303

FY 2020-21

236.75

Alotted hours

FY 2021-22*

262

4,783

SOURCE: CITY OF GEORGETOWNCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER *REPRESENTS OCT.MAY OF FY 202122

GEORGETOWN EDITION • AUGUST 2022