Connections 2025 - January Update
This week, the Capital Metro board of directors took a deep dive into the numbers of our Connections 2025 study. On Monday, we reviewed the financial process, along with operating and capital costs at a special work session. Missed the meeting? Check out the presentation or view the meeting video recording online.
What's new?
Timeline change to February
In order to review more financial data and additional details on the proposed innovation zones, the board has extended the study timeline to include a final work session on Feb. 17. The final Connections 2025 plan will be voted on at next month's board meeting on Feb. 27. As always, board meetings are open to the public and can be streamed online.
Capital Metro Board of Directors - Work Session
February 17
Capital Metro Board of Directors - Action Item for Approval
February 27
Capital Metro
2nd Floor Board Room
2910 E. 5th St
Austin, TX 78702
More frequent. More reliable. More connected.
The Connections 2025 plan proposes some major improvements to existing or new bus routes. Throughout this year-long process, we've heard folks tell us they want more buses, more often with better connections.
In response, we're proposing increasing the number of high-frequency routes (operating every 15 minutes or better) from 6 currently, to 17 total. That means, 4 out of 5 riders (82%) would have easy access to one of those routes.
What else? Check out the full proposed network map, route-by-route proposals and our Top 10 list of benefits at connections2025.org.
Recommendation to replace unproductive service with Innovation Zones
The Connections 2025 team has recommended replacing routes that experience low demand with other transportation options, "Mobility Innovation Zones", in six areas of our network. Wanna learn more? Check out last month's update on our blog. We'll explore the Mobility Innovation Zones more with our board next month.
Why Mobility Innovation Zones and not a regular bus route? By shifting resources from routes that have experienced low ridership, we can move that bus service to corridors with high demand. For example, we know our top 5 bus routes carry more than 30% of our ridership. By boosting frequency on those corridors, we could offer improved service to more than a third of our riders.
How would Mobility Innovation Zones work? The Connections 2025 Team is recommending a phased approach. First, we would explore new transit options outside of the traditional 40-foot buses like, carshare, vanpools, flex routes and shuttles. We'd work with our community to decide which suits each area best. Next, we'd run a pilot period to test the success of these new options. Finally, it's important to know, that no service would be changed in these areas for at least 2 years. This will be an ongoing process as we explore, collaborate on and test these new mobility options before implementation.
Phasing and implementation
Connections 2025 is intended to serve as the roadmap for Capital Metro over the next 10 years. This does not mean every route proposal is a done deal. Beginning in late 2017, we'll host additional open house meetings, make onboard announcements, post information at stops, and much more, to spread the word on any upcoming service changes and gather your feedback. Ultimately, each route change would need subsequent board approval.
