Austin CapMetro launches bus route changes with free rides
Fourteen high-frequency routes are at the heart of ‘Cap Remap,’ Austin Capital Metro’s plan to boost ridership, which launched Monday with free rides offered through Saturday.
Buses are expected on stops along these routes every 15 minutes during the daytime, 7 days a week, or 20–30 minutes on evenings and weekends. In order to achieve this frequency CapMetro altered some routes, eliminated route deviations within neighborhoods, and eliminated two routes entirely.
Two major north-south routes called ‘MetroRapid’ are meant to be the two fastest routes, with limited-stop service. One of these routes runs along North Lamar and South Congress between Tech Ridge and Southpark Meadows. The other runs along Burnet and South Lamar between Westgate and Domain.
Twelve ‘frequent local’ routes are likewise scheduled to run every 15 minutes, for example, Route 335 running along 35th and 38th streets. Most of these local routes run east-west.
Routes 122 and 970 were eliminated without replacement, affecting the northwest Lakeline area and the Oak Hill area west of Mopac.
CapMetro local fares are $1.25 or $2.50 for a day pass, while commuter routes cost $3.50 or $7.00 for the day. Children ride free throughout the summer of 2018.
This fiscal year the Austin transit service is investing extensively in its new services and upgrades with a capital budget of $152 million, including $29 million to replace 17 buses and improve train control.
CapMetro’s revenues last fiscal year were $14.9 million while the system’s total costs ran up to $128.4 million, making for an operating loss of $113.4 million. Sales tax revenues made up for most of the difference.
Ridership on most CapMetro services dipped 5.4% in the first three months of this year compared to the same period last year, according to figures presented at the transit agency’s board meeting last week. The transit service is hoping to reverse declining ridership with Cap Remap launched this week.
