What we reported

Transportation is the No. 2 expense for more Austin households, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Austin leaders face the challenge of offering meaningful alternatives to encourage people to give up their vehicles.

The latest

Capital Metro’s board of directors approved the agency’s 10-year service plan called Connections 2025 in 2017 with plans to implement the majority of changes June 3. The most significant proposed change is expanding the network of high-frequency bus routes offering 15-minute service from six routes to 14. Other changes include eliminating duplicate routes and realigning routes.

What’s next

Agency staffers are preparing to build 114 new bus stations and change signage at about 2,000 of the 2,800 bus stops, said Jenn Golech, manager of service and projects for planning and implementation at Capital Metro. Staffers are also planning to start a public outreach program in April. Employees will head to stations and buses to alert riders of changes. This story is one update from The January Issue. View the full list of Top 8 stories to follow in 2018 here.