As the new Bus Rapid Transit—or MetroRapid—system nears the debut of its first route, the city of Austin also is preparing for the new mode of transportation by raising the penalty for those obstructing Transportation Priority Lanes.

"It is an exciting for the city and [Capital Metro]," said Councilman Chris Riley at a Jan. 21 council work session. "This does represent a very significant step forward for transit in Austin and for CapMetro as an agency."

Austin City Council approved the item on its consent agenda Jan. 23 but did not discuss the topic during that meeting.

According to the ordinance, stopping, standing or parking a motor vehicle in the priority lane is prohibited, and those in violation may be fined $500. Before the ordinance, the transportation department could only impose a $25 citation for those parking, standing or stopping in special use lanes.

Robert Spillar, director of the city of Austin's Transportation Department, said at the council work session the ordinance served as a way to assist Capital Metro in its rollout of MetroRapid.

"Obviously, transit lanes are only good if they're available for transit to use, so we are trying to put a major discouragement for delivery vehicles or for persons parking or stopping in that lane," Spillar said.

The transit priority lanes are both on Lavaca Street and Guadalupe Street between Second Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. These lanes are meant to assist the new buses for safety and maneuverability, Spillar said.

"The lanes are for buses only except we allow right-turners to enter that lane in the block where there's the opportunity to turn right," Spillar said. "A driver wanting to turn right can enter the bus lane as they approach the intersection where they are going to turn and turn right just as they do today."

Spillar added the department also expects bikes to merge with the priority transit lane in some cases and that parking enforcement officers will help enforce the rule.

The first MetroRapid route will start at the Tech Ridge Center Park & Ride and travel along roads including North Lamar Boulevard, Guadalupe Street, Riverside Drive and South Congress Avenue. The route will end at the Southpark Meadows shopping center in South Austin.

"Clearly, it's going to be an adjustment, but we really want the [bus rapid transit] to be a success and this is an important part of it," said Councilwoman Laura Morrison.