Capital Metro is Austin’s provider of public transit options, including MetroRapid buses. Capital Metro is Austin’s provider of public transit options, including MetroRapid buses.[/caption]

Updated Jan. 25, 2:23 p.m. to correct the February meeting date and the Mueller proposal.



What we reported


In August, Capital Metro unveiled its proposed service network update called Connections 2025, which is a 10-year plan updated every five years. Changes include boosted bus frequency, consolidating duplicate routes, new Express bus service, adding circulators at key destinations and creating mobility hubs.



The latest


In response to concern from riders, Capital Metro staffers have revisited some bus routes proposed for elimination. Staffers have proposed all-day daily service to connect to The University of Texas via routes 10 and 335 in the Mueller development. The agency also will keep Route 663 to UT and instead shorten the new Route 804 and Route 17 to avoid duplication of service. On Jan. 8, the agency also reduced the fare of its MetroRapid and Flyer bus routes to match the $1.25 per trip, the same price charged for local bus routes, as recommended in Connections 2025.



What’s next


At a Jan. 9 work session, board members asked to see more details on the cost to keep certain bus routes instead of eliminating them. Capital Metro’s board is scheduled to approve the full list of changes to the service plan at the Feb. 27 meeting following a work session Feb. 17.


This story is one update from The January Issue. View the full list of 10 things to look for in 2017 here.