Austinites’ days of riding the bus for $1.25 may be over at the beginning of next year. CapMetro, the city’s public bus system, is seeking public input for its proposed rates of $1.50 per local ride by January 2027 and $2 by January 2029.<\/p>\n
Feedback collected will be delivered to the CapMetro Board of Directors to make the final decision on September 28, 2026.<\/p>\n
The two-tiered increase is notable not just because it’s a significant amount more expensive than current rate (the 2029 rate would be a 60 percent increase from today), but because it will be the first fare increase since 2015. A press release says the increase would “help CapMetro ensure service reliability and maintain investments<\/a> in new transit vehicles and infrastructure made over the last 11 years.”<\/p>\n CapMetro receives funds from local sales tax revenues, which the organization cites for its ability so far to avoid inflation-based fare hikes. If the proposed rates are accepted, the release points out that they will still be among the lowest system fares in the country. <\/p>\n The current local bus fare in Houston<\/a> is $1.25 per ride and a day pass is $3; in Dallas<\/a>, riders pay $3 for a three-hour pass or $6 for a day pass; in San Antonio<\/a>, one ride is $1.30 and a day pass is $2.75. The fare on most local buses in New York City<\/a> is $3; Los Angeles<\/a> has a regular fare of $1.75 and a daily fare cap of $5.<\/p>\n The release also cites a new Rapid service in East Austin, more frequent trips on “key” routes, the establishment of a Transit Police Department, and more Pickup zones as reasons for the proposed increase, plus a change that went into effect June 1, 2026, that some Austinites are still trying to understand: a newly “modernized fare payment system.”<\/p>\n The modernization effort<\/a> this spring removed fareboxes from buses, which means the buses no longer print paper magnetic or day passes. Riders’ daily and monthly fare caps ($2.50 and $41.25, respectively) still apply, but those paying cash on the bus will not reach them because without a paper pass, CapMetro cannot keep track of their rides. <\/p>\n In order to work toward the fare cap, riders need to use the Umo phone app or a reloadable card \u2014 a system that works fine for many people, but presents barriers for people who don’t have smart phones or can’t easily make it to an H-E-B or other retailer<\/a> within business hours to pick up or add cash to the card before riding. The worst part for many riders is confusion and misinformation, evident in social media comments<\/a> and word of mouth from riders who can’t easily look up the layered changes. <\/p>\n When CapMetro announced that it would remove the fareboxes, it explained that they were being phased out because the manufacturer was no longer supporting the devices.<\/p>\n As CapMetro considers the rate increases, it is also “evaluating improvements to certain reduced fare structures and rates” for low-income customers. The release says the improvements may also make those reduced fare categories easier to navigate.<\/p>\n From the release, the progressive increase structure would be timed as follows:<\/p>\n Local Service: $1.25 (Current) \u2192 $1.50 (January 2027) \u2192 $2.00 (January 2029)Pickup Service: $1.25 (Current) \u2192 $1.50 (January 2027) \u2192 $2.00 (January 2029)Commuter Service: $3.50 (Current) \u2192 $4.00 (January 2027) \u2192 $5.00 (January 2029)CapMetro Access Service: $1.75 (Current) \u2192 $2.25 (January 2027) \u2192 $3.25 (January 2029)<\/p>\n