For thousands of Hays County residents, getting to work or school in Austin and back home often means mornings and evenings spent in traffic on one of Central Texas’ busiest corridors: I-35.
As the region continues to grow and construction adds another challenge to the daily commute, the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, or CAMPO, is helping drivers find options to make the trip a little easier.
Launched in September, CAMPO's We Ride I-35 program connects Kyle and Buda residents with carpool partners traveling similar routes to Austin, reducing driving costs and stress. Participants can earn $5 per day by logging eligible rides.
“We want to provide another tool for people to get around on a daily basis to share rides if they can and when they can,” Doise Miers, CAMPO community outreach manager, said.
What does CAMPO do in Central Texas?
CAMPO is the federally designated metropolitan planning organization for Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson counties.
The organization is responsible for long-range planning to meet the region’s transportation needs. CAMPO is currently planning through 2050, considering not only roads but also transit, walking, biking, carpooling and emerging technologies that could help Central Texans get where they need to go.
CAMPO also considers when people travel, strategizing ways to help reduce demand during the busiest times of day.
Miers said CAMPO explores new transportation tools in a fast-growing region like Central Texas, where commuters’ needs can outpace available funding and the speed at which new infrastructure can be built.
“When you’ve got 100 people a day moving into a region that is already kind of busting at the seams, we’re not going to be able to plan and build and implement quickly enough,” Miers said.
What is the purpose of the We Ride I-35 carpool program?
Hays County’s rapid growth has put more drivers on the road between the Kyle-Buda area and Austin. At the same time, construction along I-35 in South Austin into downtown can make an already busy commute more challenging.
We Ride I-35 helps commuters navigate those challenges through carpooling—one piece of what transportation planners call transportation demand management, or finding ways to make better use of the transportation network that already exists.
“We’re definitely getting creative and using all the tools possible because the region is just growing so much,” Miers said.
How does the We Ride I-35 program work?
We Ride I-35 is designed to make finding a carpool partner simple for Kyle and Buda residents traveling into Austin. Here’s how to get started:
Fill out the ride-matching form: Commuters visit www.WeRideI35.org and provide information about their typical commute.
Let CAMPO find potential matches: CAMPO connects Kyle and Buda-area commuters who are traveling toward Austin along similar routes.
Connect with carpool partners: Once CAMPO identifies a match, the organization will put the potential carpool partners in touch.
Coordinate with the carpool group: Carpool members decide when and where to meet, who will drive and other details based on their individual schedules and needs.
Log eligible carpool trips: Participants can log their rides on the CTX Go app and earn $5 per day through the city of Austin’s carbon-reduction grant funding.
Miers said the carpooling program complements CTX Go, which is a partnership of regional transportation organizations to provide information about lane closures, construction and other travel impacts so commuters can navigate the region while major transportation projects are underway.
How can carpooling improve quality of life and transportation access?
Sharing rides can mean dividing gas expenses, vehicle wear and repair costs among multiple people, as well as taking turns behind the wheel so commuters can avoid the stress of driving every day.
“That's one of, I feel like, our biggest daily stressors is getting into the car,” Miers said. “So if you're able to do it with people, you can read a book, you can listen to a podcast … you don't always have to be the driver.”
Carpooling also increases accessibility to travel, one of CAMPO’s long-term goals. It helps those who don’t own a vehicle, don't have a license or are otherwise unable to drive access jobs, education and medical appointments farther from home.
It can even create connections along the way. Miers said she remains friends with people she previously met through carpool rides into downtown Austin.
Share the ride, simplify the commute
CAMPO plans to learn from the program as Kyle and Buda residents begin participating. Eventually, Miers said the approach could provide a model for similar efforts elsewhere as Central Texas continues to grow.
For now, the goal is to encourage commuters to explore their options as construction and population growth continue reshaping travel along I-35 in Austin.
Kyle and Buda commuters interested in finding a potential carpool match can visit www.WeRideI35.org. Learn more about CAMPO and its regional transportation plans at www.campotexas.org.
A quick recap FAQ
What is CAMPO?
The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, or CAMPO, coordinates long-range transportation planning for Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson counties. Its planning considers roads, transit, walking, biking, carpooling and other strategies for meeting Central Texas’ changing transportation needs.
What is the We Ride I-35 program?
We Ride I-35 is a CAMPO program that connects Kyle and Buda-area commuters with potential carpool partners traveling similar routes toward Austin. The program is designed to give residents another commuting option as the region grows and construction continues along I-35.
How can Kyle and Buda commuters find a carpool through We Ride I-35?
Commuters can visit WeRideI35.org and complete a ride-matching form with information about their typical commute. CAMPO identifies potential matches and connects commuters, who can then determine their meeting location, schedule and driving arrangements.
Can commuters earn financial incentives for carpooling?
Yes. Participants can log eligible carpool trips through the CTX Go app and earn credits and financial incentives supported through the city of Austin’s carbon-reduction grant funding.