Transit authority on track to launch service in early 2014

Capital Metro is testing the shiny new 60-foot accordion-style buses that have arrived in Austin to operate on the first route of its MetroRapid system.

The red and black buses resemble the transit authority's RedLine commuter rail cars—a design that was intentional, CEO and President Linda Watson said.

"We wanted it to stand out from our regular bus service," she said.

MetroRapid is the agency's bus rapid transit system that launches in early 2014. The agency is branding it as the premium bus service. It will have two routes serving the most densely populated areas of the city and connecting areas of business, education, health care and entertainment.

The first route runs from the Tech Ridge Park & Ride down North Lamar Boulevard and South Congress Avenue to Southpark Meadows. The second route runs from The Domain down Burnet Road and South Lamar Boulevard to the Westgate shopping center. Passengers can access the service on 77 stations between the two routes.

Eighty percent of funding for the MetroRapid system comes from a grant from the Federal Transit Administration's Very Small Starts program. The total cost of the project is $47,621,000, and the grant is for $38,097,000, leaving Capital Metro to foot the remaining $9,524,000.

Premium service

The MetroRapid buses will showcase a variety of new technology features that will give the system a speed advantage.

"If the bus is behind schedule, there's technology on the bus that communicates with our system and the city of Austin's traffic signals to extend the green light [by seven seconds] so it won't slow the bus down and will keep it rapid," said Joe Iannello, Capital Metro vice president and chief information officer.

Iannello added the stations will also use real-time data to show the anticipated arrival time of the next bus. Installation of the digital message signs began in early August, he said.

Bus service will run about every 10 minutes during peak hours. Hours of operation will be Monday through Friday 5 a.m.–1 a.m., Saturday 6 a.m.–midnight and Sunday 7 a.m.–11 p.m.

The first route along North Lamar and South Congress will use 60-foot accordion buses that will have three doors. The Burnet Road/South Lamar Boulevard route will use standard 40-foot buses with the new design.

Ken Cartwright, Capital Metro vice president for capital projects, said the agency began testing the new technology in August and making adjustments. He said plans are going smoothly to launch MetroRapid on schedule.

"We're pleased everything is coming together as we hoped," he said.

Each of the new MetroRapid buses has an engine that is certified by Environmental Protection Agency 2010 standards to use the cleanest technology available for diesel engines to reduce emissions, according to Capital Metro.

Going mobile

With the launch of MetroRapid, Capital Metro also will roll out its mobile app. The agency tested a beta version of the app for the 2012 United States Grand Prix in November.

Customers will be able to use their passes and mobile ticketing on their smartphones at any of the three doors, all of which will have electronic ticket validators for quicker entry.

Iannello said the agency will be one of the first in the nation to launch a system-wide mobile ticketing option. Customers will also be able to use mobile ticketing for the train, and the service will be available for iOS, Android and Windows plat