As part of its June service changes, Capital Metro will implement a high-frequency network on five bus routes that connect to its MetroRapid bus service.
This network will increase the frequency of bus service on routes 7, 20, 300, 325 and 331 to every 15 minutes weekdays from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.Route 20 will run every 20 minutesand every 20 minutes from 7-10 p.m. Saturday service will be every 20-30 minutes.
Changes will take effect June 7 along with other service changes approved by the Capital Metro board March 23.
Planner Lawrence Deeter said increasing frequency on bus routes is a top priority of both the public and Capital Metro staff members. The 10 routes with the highest ridership, including the above-mentioned routes and MetroRapid routes 801 and 803, represent about 60 percent of total ridership.
Deeter said increasing frequency of bus routes will allow riders to depend on public transit for nontraditional trips, such as going to the doctor, shopping or out to eat.
Transit is primarily designed around work and school trips, but that really is only small a percentage [of rides], he said.
The total operating cost of the high-frequency network is about $2.1 million annually, and Capital Metro anticipates it would increase ridership between 2,700 and 5,500 riders, Deeter said.
Capital Metro makes service changes three times each year in January, June and August. The high-frequency network changes will take effect June 7. Other service changes include:
adding new Route 237: This is a partnership with Travis County to implement a Northeast Austin feeder route servicing Loyola Lane, the Springdale shopping center and the new Mobile Loaves & Fishes Community First! Village. Travis County will fund about 10 percent of the $410,000 operating cost to add the new route because a part of the route is outside ofCapital Metro's service area, Deeter said.
realign Route 37 to serve the H-E-B in the Mueller development at Barbara Jordan Boulevard and Berkman Drive
realign Route 271 to SH 130 from Hwy. 71 and Ross Road. This request came from area residents, and Capital Metro would maintain service to Del Valle ISD.
Capital Metro opted not to realign Route 243 serving Wells Branch. Original plans had called for removing serving on Single Trace and Merrilltown Drive, but Deeter said plans are on hold because Capital Metro discovered more riders use it than initially thought.
For more information and maps, visit www.capmetro.org/june2015.
