After gathering public comment on
Capital Metro's large-scale service changes slated to begin June 3, planners with the transit agency presented new alterations to the proposal at the Capital Metro board of directors work session Tuesday.
The 10-year service plan, Connections 2025, was approved by Capital Metro board members in February 2017.
Capital Metro Planner Lawrence Deeter said any approved changes to the proposal must be balanced in the budget. For example, any added or expanded routes would have to result in a reduction of another route, a combination of other routes, or a reduction in the frequency of a route. He said the goal is to keep service frequent and accessible.
Here are some of the possible changes coming to the June 2018 proposal, pending board approval in November. The suggested changes were created using input from public comment.
Central Austin
Route 5: Provide direct service to Criss Cole Center.
Route 7: Maintain from Friedrich to Woodward.
Pflugerville
Route 243: Continue to operate on Heatherwilde.
Southwest Austin
Route 315: Provide direct service to Oak Hill Shopping Center.
Routes 271 and 350: Preserve service to Met Center by extending Route 271, remove from route 350.
Northwest Austin
Route 383: Preserve service to Anderson Mill, Lakeline Mall, and North Lamar Transit Centers. Add service to Great Hills.
Route 392: Keep Route 392, but it will now end at Burnet Road instead of Great Hills. Great Hills will be served by 383 and Route 3. The frequency of buses would also be adjusted to every 40 minutes.
The planning committee will take comments during two public hearings on Nov. 1. The first will take place from noon-1 p.m. and the second from 5:30-6 p.m. Both will be held at Capital Metro Headquarters.
The board will vote on the changes to the proposal on Nov. 15 at Capital Metro Headquarters.