Capital Metro’s board of directors has pushed back a vote on the Connections 2025 service plan changes to give members more time to analyze the financial ramifications of eliminating bus service and explore innovative transit options.
The agency hosted a work session Jan. 9 to answer questions from board members ahead of a scheduled Jan. 23 vote on the plan. However, board members had additional questions on how much it would cost to maintain all existing bus service. The board pushed the vote to Feb. 20 and will use the Jan. 23 meeting to discuss the plan again.
Menu of options
Two Austin City Council members, Ann Kitchen and Delia Garza, who also sit on Capital Metro’s board, said they wanted more information on the how much it would cost to keep bus routes proposed for elimination, such as part of Route 30 and Routes 21/22 in West Austin.
“I don’t think we have the information to understand the trade offs,” Kitchen said.
Capital Metro staffers said the Connections 2025 plan will cost between $260 million and $298 million annually to implement in the next five years. These costs include the operation of new service, administration and programs.
Planner Lawrence Deeter, who is also the Connections 2025 project manager, said not all the capital costs have been covered. The agency lacks $260 million for bus infrastructure, including $70 million for additional Capital Metro Park & Ride lots. It also needs $151 million for a maintenance and repair facility and $680 million for rail infrastructure.
In areas where bus service is proposed to be cut, Capital Metro will create six Innovation Zones to explore alternative transit options, such as shuttles, car sharing or ride- sharing.
Garza was critical of the agency focusing attention on these zones, which are all located west of I-35.
“[Areas] east of I-35 could also benefit from innovation, but we’re not having those conversations,” she said.
Deeter said he also could not provide many additional details on the specifics of which transit options would be appropriate in each zone because of rapidly changing technology and new guidelines from the Federal Transit Administration.
Opposition
Most residents who addressed the board said they do not support eliminating service west of MoPac.
“We’ve been talking for decades about the need to reconnect Austin because of the barrier created by I-35,” District 10 Council Member Alison Alter said. “I am worried that by cutting off transit west of MoPac that we are creating a similar set of divisions in the city.”
