{"id":85350,"date":"2025-12-12T09:49:13","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T09:49:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/85350\/"},"modified":"2025-12-12T09:49:13","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T09:49:13","slug":"capmetros-latest-approved-plan-signals-shift-in-commuter-behavior","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/85350\/","title":{"rendered":"CapMetro\u2019s latest approved plan signals shift in commuter behavior"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClick the links to view this story as it appeared in the Northwest Austin<\/a>, North Central and South Central Austin<\/a> and Southwest Austin\/Dripping Springs<\/a> print editions. <\/p>\n

As CapMetro<\/a> celebrates its 40th anniversary<\/a>, the agency isn\u2019t just looking back\u2014it\u2019s looking ahead. Four decades after Austin voters created the transit authority, CapMetro finds itself at a crossroads, navigating a region whose commuting patterns look different than they once did.<\/p>\n

What’s happening?<\/p>\n

CapMetro\u2019s Transit Plan 2035<\/a>, adopted Oct. 20, marks what CEO Dottie Watkins calls a sweeping \u201crecalibration\u201d to create a more equitable and widely used transit system. The plan coincides with the agency\u2019s partner initiative Project Connect<\/a>\u2014the multibillion dollar build-out of Austin\u2019s voter-approved light rail, which is set to begin construction within the next few years.<\/p>\n

The rise of hybrid work and the decline of the traditional nine-to-five commuters have forced Austin\u2019s public transit agency to confront the problem of how to adapt a system built for a past era to meet the needs of today\u2019s Central Texans.<\/p>\n

Rethinking the ride<\/p>\n

Providing public transit across such a large and economically varied region has always been a challenge, according to industry experts. A recent survey conducted by Movability<\/a>, a Central Texas commute-planning nonprofit, found that lower-income households across the region travel an average 10\u201315 miles farther each day than higher-income commuters.<\/p>\n

CapMetro\u2019s long-term strategy aims to close mobility gaps by bringing access closer to where people live and work. However, providing frequent, fixed-route service remains difficult\u2014especially amid flat sales tax revenue that limits resources, Watkins said.<\/p>\n

In parts of the metro like Northwest and Southwest Austin, there are many instances where bus stops are more than a 10-minute walk from residents\u2019 homes and commercial hubs, while several routes in the area are also underutilized, according to Austin City Council member Krista Laine.<\/p>\n

In Central Austin, reliability and frequency remain large concerns from public transit advocates and users. City Council member Paige Ellis, who also serves on the CapMetro board, said the agency must \u201cget creative\u201d as it works to increase frequency while managing the costs of operation personnel.<\/p>\n

Going forward, the agency is leaning on new flexible solutions, such as CapMetro Pickup<\/a>, an on-demand microtransit service that operates like a shared ride-hail within defined zones.<\/p>\n

“><\/p>\n

Using smaller vehicles, Pickup helps riders reach bus routes, grocery stores and medical centers, the \u201clast-mile\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

In addition, under Transit Plan 2035, CapMetro plans to increase transit frequency primarily to core high-ridership corridors, specifically focusing on its MetroRapid<\/a> lines and converting several existing bus routes to run more often.<\/p>\n

Watkins said frequency is the single most effective way to attract riders and keep them using transit. The agency aims to achieve a consistent 10-minute frequency on its two newest MetroRapid routes\u2014Route 800 and Route 837, primarily serving downtown and East Austin\u2014by next summer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Further ahead, the plan outlines additional frequency improvements for other corridors, including the Red Line<\/a> 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\u2019s five-plus-year outlook.<\/p>\n

Items worth mentioning <\/p>\n

Steve Crossland, an Austin resident and regular CapMetro rider, said the cast of characters that riders can encounter can range from interesting to scary.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Public transit] does have a little bit more of a perceived safety issue,\u201d Crossland said.<\/p>\n

Watkins emphasized that public transit must not only be safe but also feel safe for it to become a regular option for all residents.<\/p>\n

In 2021, CapMetro launched a three-pronged public safety program<\/a> that remains rooted in a community-centered approach, said Gardner Tabon, executive vice president of systemwide accessibility and chief safety officer at CapMetro.<\/p>\n

Public Safety Ambassadors actively engage with riders and operators, offering assistance.Community Intervention Specialists provide an alternative to criminalization for individuals facing challenges like homelessness or addiction by connecting people with a network of partner agencies offering needed services.The new in-house Transit Police Department, launched this summer<\/a>, currently consists of 14 active officers and the recently-hired<\/a> Transit Police Chief RenEarl Bowie.\u201cWe are less inclined, when there\u2019s not a crime taking place, to criminalize individuals that are in our system. We\u2019d rather try to find them a positive path,\u201d Tabon said.<\/p>\n

Safety personnel split time roughly 50\/50 between proactive \u201cdirected patrols\u201d in identified areas with recurring issues and reactive responses to calls for service, he explained.<\/p>\n

Since launching the public safety initiative, the agency has seen a \u201cleveling off\u201d effect in the number of public safety incidents, Tabon said.<\/p>\n

Did you know?<\/p>\n

CapMetro offers specific services to enhance rider security after dark, providing an essential safety net for those traveling late at night.<\/p>\n

Courtesy Stops: After 9 p.m., riders on any bus can request to be dropped off at a safe, well-lit location between official stops.Guaranteed Ride Home program provides registered Express, Flyer, Rail and Vanpool customers with a taxi ride home in the event of an unexpected emergencyManaging the impact<\/p>\n

Beyond filling immediate service gaps, CapMetro is making long-term investments in infrastructure that would create a more integrated network. In early November, the agency broke ground on its $49.3 million North Burnet Uptown Station<\/a> along the MetroRail Red Line, which will function as transit-oriented development<\/a>, or TOD.<\/p>\n

TODs are designed to create compact, mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods centered around multimodal transit hubs. By linking rail with high-frequency bus routes, it cuts transfers and shortens travel times\u2014directly benefiting lower-income commuters who often face long, complicated commuter trips, CapMetro officials said.<\/p>\n

Project Connect corridors are already attracting developers that build housing, offices and entertainment destinations, resulting in neighborhoods designed for transit riders, agency officials said.<\/p>\n

Other locations for TODs are being developed, such as the North Lamar Transit Center<\/a> and South Congress Transit Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Additionally, city-level policy changes\u2014like the removal of parking minimums in 2023 and the introduction of new TOD zoning overlays in 2024\u2014are helping expand this approach citywide.<\/p>\n

\"\"In recent years, CapMetro has identified areas across the metro that could see benefits from mixed-use development near transit stations. (Courtesy CapMetro)The outlook<\/p>\n

As the area continues to grow, transportation advocates say public transportation will be necessary to address mounting congestion across the city.<\/p>\n

Transportation expert Joshua Schank, a Senior Fellow at UCLA Institute for Transportation Studies<\/a>, noted\u2014during a local transportation forum earlier this year\u2014that if public transit is seen only as a social service, traffic congestion will continue getting worse. He said that making transit accessible, frequent and convenient for everyone, across all income levels, is crucial for creating and maintaining a successful transit system.<\/p>\n

\"chart<\/p>\n

As the culture shifts away from being car-centric, the demand for high-density development around infrastructure will become more prevalent, Movability executive director Lonny Stern said.<\/p>\n

Historically, Central Texas development has followed roads, producing sprawling single-family neighborhoods and big-box stores, Stern said. He explained that TODs flips that pattern, encouraging multi-family, office and entertainment projects tied directly to transit hubs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to allow a little bit more commercial in our neighborhoods. We need to make sure that when we build multifamily, it\u2019s walkable,\u201d Stern said. \u201c… We need to make sure that there\u2019s shade structures and trees … so that if you\u2019re 8 or 80, you enjoy walking around the neighborhood.\u201d\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Click the links to view this story as it appeared in the Northwest Austin, North Central and South…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":85351,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[132,40908,40922,40905,14021,134,11337,133,37482,40915,40910,25597,40901,40919,11331,40904,40921,40916,40912,40909,40906,40918,40902,40920,40911,40913,37474,40917,40903,40914,40907,11333,27720],"class_list":["post-85350","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-austin","tag-austin","tag-austin-bus-service","tag-austin-commuter-trends","tag-austin-commuting","tag-austin-development","tag-austin-headlines","tag-austin-light-rail","tag-austin-news","tag-austin-public-transportation","tag-austin-safety-transit","tag-austin-tod","tag-austin-traffic","tag-austin-transit","tag-austin-transportation-planning","tag-capmetro","tag-capmetro-pickup","tag-capmetro-routes","tag-capmetro-safety","tag-central-austin-transit","tag-central-texas-mobility","tag-hybrid-work-austin","tag-last-mile-transit-austin","tag-metrorapid","tag-mixed-use-development-austin","tag-north-burnet-station","tag-northwest-austin-transit","tag-project-connect","tag-public-safety-transit-austin","tag-red-line","tag-southwest-austin-transit","tag-transit-frequency","tag-transit-plan-2035","tag-transit-oriented-development-austin"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85350","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=85350"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85350\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/85351"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=85350"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=85350"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=85350"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}