Capital Metro opened two pairs of new MetroRapid bus stations in North Austin in an effort to reduce the distance between stops. The stations were put into service Dec. 13 on Route 801 along North Lamar Boulevard at Parmer Lane and at Fairfield Drive. In January, a third MetroRapid station pair will open on Route 803 along Burnet Road at Rutland Drive. The three station pairs are part of Capital Metro's plan to open eight station pairs for a total of 16 bus stops along routes 801 and 803. On Route 803, Capital Metro plans to add a station pair on South Lamar Boulevard near the Broken Spoke. On Route 801, the station pair near Guadalupe and 31st streets has already opened, and other station pairs will open next year at North Lamar and North Loop, South Congress Avenue and St. Elmo, and South Congress and Slaughter Lane. The total cost of the project is $3.6 million, and the remaining station pairs will open in early 2019, said Mark Herrera, program and project manager for the capital projects group at Capital Metro.