Tag Archives: Capital Metro
Tuesday, October 5, 2021 by Seth Smalley
Transit
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…
Tuesday, September 28, 2021 by Seth Smalley
Transit
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…
Tuesday, August 31, 2021 by Nathan Bernier, KUT
Transit
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.…
Thursday, August 19, 2021 by Seth Smalley
Transit
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…
Wednesday, July 21, 2021 by Seth Smalley
Transit
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.…
Wednesday, July 14, 2021 by Nathan Bernier, KUT
Transit
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…
Tuesday, July 6, 2021 by Nathan Bernier, KUT
Transit
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…
Thursday, July 1, 2021 by Seth Smalley
Budget
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,…
Tuesday, June 29, 2021 by Seth Smalley
Transit
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,…
Monday, June 28, 2021 by Seth Smalley
Transportation
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),…
Thursday, June 17, 2021 by Seth Smalley
Transit
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,…
Monday, June 7, 2021 by Seth Smalley
Transit
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…
Monday, May 17, 2021 by Seth Smalley
Budget
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…
Tuesday, May 4, 2021 by Seth Smalley
Transit
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…
Friday, April 23, 2021 by Nathan Bernier, KUT
Transit
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…
Thursday, April 15, 2021 by Seth Smalley
Transit
Capital Metro shifts from ‘surviving to thriving’ in 2021
At the April 14 meeting of Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors, members reviewed operations performance statistics over the last year, covering topics ranging from total ridership to vehicle collision rates to promptness of Capital Metro vehicles. (Performance metrics…
Friday, February 12, 2021 by Harrison Young
Transit
Capital Metro backs Smart Trips extension
On Wednesday, the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors unanimously recommended approval of a third renewal of Smart Trips, an outreach program designed to educate Austinites about the city’s expanding transit options. A collaboration between Capital Metro and the…
Monday, February 8, 2021 by Mose Buchele, KUT
City Council
Austin approves $23M to help prevent gentrification near new transit hubs
Austin City Council has put $23 million toward projects to stop people from getting priced out of their neighborhoods. It’s the first use of money from a larger anti-displacement fund set up to soften the gentrifying effects of planned rail…
Friday, February 5, 2021 by Harrison Young
Transit
East Riverside to get bus priority lanes in April
Construction on interim transit bus lanes on East Riverside Drive will begin in late February and are expected to open in April, according to the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Austin Transportation Department. One of Austin’s major corridors, the…
Wednesday, January 27, 2021 by Jonathan Lee
Transportation
A long time coming, Red Line Parkway could be completed by decade’s end
The City Council Mobility Committee heard an update on the Red Line Parkway last week, one of the city’s most anticipated urban trail projects. Austinites can look for significant progress on the trail this year with new segments under development…
