The Capital Area Rural Transportation System, known as CARTS, provides rural transportation services in nine counties including Travis County.[/caption]

The Travis County Commissioners Court heard July 28 from a local transportation group that wants increased funding for fiscal year 2016.

The Capital Area Rural Transportation System, known as CARTS, provides rural transportation services in nine counties including Travis County. Indigent and other qualified residents of rural Travis County can access transportation to and from health clinics, doctor appointments, community and senior centers and CARTS Neighborhood Centers in locations such as Pflugerville and Oak Hill.

CARTS General Manager David Marsh told commissioners service has been provided to Travis County since the late '70s, but it needs more funding and has been working with partners at Capital Metro, the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Lone Star Rail District and community members to determine solutions. Its funding comes from TxDOT’s rural transit grant program, he said, noting areas that are considered “urbanized” do not receive federal funds to support CARTS.

The court did not vote on the request that CARTS's annual bus paratransit contract amount of $130,752 be increased to $428,460 in funding but will consider that as part of budget planning, Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt said.

“We are keenly interested in playing a role in developing transit in our unincorporated areas of Travis County and connecting our full region, and [CARTS is] the partner to do that with along with Capital Metro,” Eckhardt said.