Capital Metro plans to change some bus routes in Southwest Austin beginning Jan. 13.

The changes are based on rider and staff feedback as well as productivity studies, Principal Planner James Gamez said. Capital Metro's board of directors approved the changes Sept. 24.

Route 5, Woodrow/South Fifth

Prior to Jan. 13, the Route 5 bus path ended at Westgate Mall. Route 5 will be extended and replace part of Route 311's old route. It will now pick up riders in the Monterrey Oaks neighborhood.

Route 238, Westgate

Capital Metro will create a new feeder route to replace part of Route 338 and travel from Westgate Mall to Slaughter Lane. The bus is expected to run every 40 minutes, according to Capital Metro.

Route 311, Stassney

Capital Metro will extend Route 311 northeast to reach Austin Community College's Riverside Campus.

Prior to this, many riders from the Dove Springs neighborhood found it challenging to cross Ben White Boulevard by bus to reach the campus, Community Involvement Manager John-Michael Cortez said.

"Now they have a direct connection," he said. "It's a transfer point. Six routes [4, 20, 100, 271, 331 and 350] converge on that point. If they can get to [the Riverside Campus], they can get anywhere they need to go."

Route 338, Lamar/45th

Capital Metro revised this route to provide a shorter route to Westgate Mall, according to its website.

Capital Metro makes changes to its bus system in January, June and August, Gamez said.