Buda City Council adopted a resolution Jan. 7 that will expand the city’s transportation program, Seniors Taking A Ride, also known as STAR.
What you need to know
The STAR program will begin serving residents living in Buda’s extraterritorial jurisdiction, or ETJ, in February, Public Information Officer Michelle Henley told Community Impact.
The program’s expansion is due to requests from residents living in the city's ETJ.
"There really aren't any regional public transportation options available for our residents either, so it's an area where we can fill in the gap to serve our community," Henley said.
How we got here
In October 2022, Buda City Council approved the expansion of the STAR program, which consisted of an additional part-time bus driver. The city was awarded a CapMetro grant in May 2023 to provide an option for the city to purchase another bus or passenger van. Council authorized the purchase of an additional bus in October 2024, which was delivered Dec. 6, according to agenda documents.
What else?
By expanding service to its ETJ, the city of Buda was able to obtain a $21,000 grant from Hays County, which will go toward operation costs for the program, including gas and maintenance for the bus, Henley said.
City staff will provide six- and nine-month reviews during the pilot program. The city will decide whether to proceed with the program after its nine-month review, according to agenda documents.
