CapMetro evolves as habits shift From the cover
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Rethinking the ride
Transit access across Austin
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CapMetro’s service area includes a range of route types that move riders within neighborhoods and across the region.
CapMetro’s Transit Plan 2035, adopted Oct. 20, marks what CEO Dottie Watkins calls a sweeping “recalibration” to create a more equitable and widely used transit system. The plan coincides with the agency’s partner initiative Project Connect—the multibillion dollar build-out of Austin’s voter-approved light rail, which is set to begin construction within the next few years. In Northwest Austin, there are many instances where bus stops are more than a 10-minute walk from residents’ homes and commercial hubs, while several routes in the area are also underutilized, according to Austin City Council member Krista Laine. CapMetro’s long-term strategy aims to close mobility gaps by bringing access closer to where people live and work. However, providing frequent, fixed-route service in lower-density suburbs such as Northwest Austin remains difficult—especially amid flat sales tax revenue that limits resources, Watkins said. Instead, the agency is leaning on new flexible solutions, such as CapMetro Pickup, an on-demand microtransit service that operates like a shared ride-hail within defined zones.
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North Austin
Rapid routes
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1 High frequency 2 Introductory service
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Regular bus routes
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3 High frequency bus 4 Bus service to and from Austin along major streets 5 Bus service in outlying areas including crosstown, flex and feeder options 6 Express, Flyer
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Rail
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Rail Rail shuttle 7 Uptown station
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Pickup zones
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STATE CAPITOL
Wells Branch
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Austin
Using smaller vehicles, Pickup helps riders reach bus routes, grocery stores and medical centers, the “last-mile” solution for those that do not live directly near transit stops, agency documents state. Two new zones and one expanded zone have been outlined in future plans for Northwest Austin, extending access to an area where traditional bus service has historically been limited.
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South Austin
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North Austin
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MAP NOT TO SCALE N
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SOURCE: CAPMETRO/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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SOURCE: CAPMETRO/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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Increased frequency
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frequency improvements for other corridors, including the Red Line commuter rail in Northwest Austin, which is expected to move from its current varying schedule to a consistent 30-minute all-day service, with extended weekday and Saturday hours in the agency’s five-plus-year outlook.
way to attract riders and keep them using transit. The agency aims to achieve a consistent 10-min- ute frequency on its two newest MetroRapid routes—Route 800 and Route 837, serving East Austin—by next summer. Further ahead, the plan outlines additional
Under Transit Plan 2035, CapMetro plans to increase transit frequency primarily to core high-ridership corridors, specifically focusing on its MetroRapid lines and converting several existing bus routes to run more often. Watkins said frequency is the single most effective
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