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Bastrop County commuters gained new transit options March 2 with the launch of two regional bus routes culminating in downtown Austin: one connecting Bastrop and Smithville, and the other connecting Georgetown and Round Rock.
The launch coincided with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the remodeled Smithville Station at 300 N.E. Loop 230.
The two-minute impact
Riders can park at CARTS Park & Ride locations and take coach buses into Austin, offering an alternative to driving and downtown parking, said Dana Platt, community engagement director for the Capital Area Rural Transportation System.
Platt noted that the initiative is part of a broader plan tied to Austin’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program and is supported in part by a $47.9 million award from the Environmental Protection Agency.
A closer look
The expanded services are intended to maintain mobility as the area grows and construction continues, while also improving air quality, trip reliability and congestion along highways 71 and 290 and I-35.
More transit options are expected to roll out near Elgin in June with the expansion of routes along Hwy. 290.
“These routes are about getting cars off the road and giving people a smarter way to commute,” CARTS General Manager Dave Marsh said in a news release. “One bus can replace dozens of single-occupancy vehicles. If you’re tired of sitting in traffic, this is your exit ramp.”
How it works
An all-in-one transit app, called CARTSNow, launched in September 2025, providing riders with access to a range of services, including:
