Notice of Public Meetings/Hearing for Summer 2009 Service Changes
June 2009 Service Change Preliminary Recommendations
Capital Metro staff has prepared preliminary recommendations for the June 2009 fixed-route service change. The recommendations include minor schedule adjustments and school-related route suspensions that normally occur at the summer service change each year. In continuing with Capital Metro's regular efforts to schedule and operate cost effective and efficient service, and in consideration of the current economic situation, select trips and/or service are proposed for elimination.
As with every service change, Capital Metro seeks public participation and input to help shape the final changes.
The preliminary recommendations target several key areas:
- Minor Schedule Adjustments (low ridership) - eliminate a few select trips in which ridership is very low, including select trips on Express Route 982 that were added in response to ridership increases during last year's spike in gas prices; as gas prices have declined, so has ridership.
- School Related Route Suspensions (summer) suspension of select trips on certain routes that provide additional carrying capacity during the regular school year.
- Route Eliminations - Elimination of routes with consistent very low ridership.
- Rail Related Changes - adjust schedules to provide better coordination between bus and rail service
We expect to bring final recommendations for Board of Directors' approval at the March meeting.
The following are proposed changes that, if approved, would become effective Sunday, June 7, 2009:
Minor Schedule Adjustments
Select trips on the following list of services would be eliminated due to low ridership. Unless otherwise noted, service on the route would remain available for customers on trips regularly scheduled prior to and after the select trip eliminated.
- 3 Burnet/Manchaca
- 7 Duval/Dove Springs
- 17 Cesar Chavez
- 29 Barton Hills
- 37 Colony Park/Windsor Park
- 300 Govalle
- 982 Pavilion Express
| route | day of week | change |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Burnet/Manchaca NB | M-F | 5:11 AM DEPARTING MANCHACA/SLAUGHTER - TRIPS AVAILABLE BEFORE AND AFTER |
| 7 Duval/Dove Springs NB | M-F | 6:47, 7:02, 7:17 AM DEPARTING WOODWARD/PARKER LANE - TRIPS AVAILABLE APPROX. 7 MIN. BEFORE AND AFTER |
| 7 Duval/Dove Springs NB | M-F | 7:38 AM DEPARTING PLEASANT VALLEY/WM. CANNON - TRIPS AVAILABLE APPROX. 7 MIN. BEFORE AND AFTER |
| 17 Cesar Chavez EB & WB | M-F | FREQUENCY FROM 6-7 AM TO BECOME 25 MINUTES |
| 17 Cesar Chavez WB | SAT. | 10:56 PM DEPARTING E. 2ND/MARTINEZ |
| 29 Barton Hills SB | M-F | 1st SB trip to start at Barton Springs/Lamar at 6:33 am instead of Whitis/21st (UT) ¿ 6:13 am |
| 37 Colony Park/Windsor Park NB | M-F | 8:20 AM DEPARTING Brazos/6th - Service available 9 minutes before |
| 37 Colony Park/Windsor Park NB | M-F | 8:50 AM DEPARTING Brazos/6th - Service available 9 minutes before |
| 300 Govalle SB | M-F | 5:07 TO 6:02 AM DEPARTING NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT CTR. - Service to operate every 30 minutes instead of every 20 minutes |
| 982 Pavilion Express SB | M-F | 6:50, 7:05, 7:50 AM DEPARTING PAVILION PARK & RIDE - Service available 5 minutes AFTER |
| 982 Pavilion Express SB | M-F | 8:50 AM DEPARTING PAVILION PARK & RIDE - Service available 10 minutes BEFORE AND AFTER |
| 982 Pavilion Express NB | M-F | 5:25 PM DEPARTING 4TH/GUADALUPE - NOW TO DEPART AT 5:30 PM. CURRENT 5:30 TRIP TO BE ELIMINATED. |
| 982 Pavilion Express SB | M-F | 6:02 PM DEPARTING PAVILION PARK & RIDE - Alternate service from Arboretum area to downtown via Route 3 |
School Related Route Suspensions
During the Summer period, trips and routes that mainly target student related loads are suspended. All services, with the exception of AISD Magnet and 430 Eastside Story, would be reinstated in the Fall of 2009.
| Route | ACTION |
|---|---|
| AISD Magnet School Routes | Service to be assumed by AISD in the Fall of 2009 |
| 410 West Campus E-Bus | Service Suspended for Summer |
| 411 Riverside E-Bus | Service Suspended for Summer |
| 412 Main Campus E-Bus | Service Suspended for Summer |
| 430 Eastside Story (Pease) | Service to be assumed by EastSide Story Program in the Fall of 2009 |
The following routes have certain trips suspended during the summer. These trips are noted in bold text within the current schedule booklet noted as "operating only when school is in session."
| Route | ACTION |
|---|---|
| 4 Montopolis | Select AM East/West trips are suspended for Summer |
| 7 Duval | Select AM South/North trips are suspended for Summer |
| 21 Exposition | Select AM Trip entering Austin High area is rerouted for Summer. Service will continue to operate along Lake Austin Blvd for this trip. |
| 22 Chicon | Select PM Trip entering Austin High area is rerouted for Summer. Service will continue to operate along Lake Austin Blvd for this trip. |
| 7 Dove Springs | Select AM Northbound and PM Southbound Trips serving Mendez Middle School are suspended for Summer |
| 300 Govalle | Select PM Southbound trips are suspended for Summer |
| 325 Ohlen | Select PM Eastbound trip are suspended for Summer |
| 333 Wm Cannon | Select AM and PM Trips are suspended for Summer |
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SHUTTLE
Routes in the UT Shuttle system will operate on a level called 'Summer Weekday." New schedule times are available on the Capital Metro web site and at frequency signs posted at bus stops.
AISD MAGNET SCHOOLS (LBJ/KEALING)
Austin Independent School District (AISD) transportation services will assume direct responsibility for coordination and operation of this service in the Fall of 2009.
Route Eliminations
In continuing with Capital Metro's regular efforts to schedule and operate cost effective and efficient service, the following services will be eliminated due to low performance. The following services rank at the bottom of a key performance measure (passengers per trip) when compared to all other operations in the system.
Alternate service on corridors traveled are available via regular service routes.
| Route | ACTION |
|---|---|
| 450 Congress `Dillo (Saturday/Sunday only) | Service Eliminated. Alternate service available in downtown. |
| 451 6th Street `Dillo (Saturday/Sunday only) | Service Eliminated. Alternate service available in downtown. |
Rail Related Changes
Capital Metro proposes minor schedule adjustments on some routes that directly access rail stations to provide better coordination of bus and rail services. Staff also recommends suspending specific trips on routes 984, 986, and 987 that are duplicative to MetroRail trips.
| Station | Route Changes (Schedule Adjustments) |
|---|---|
| Downtown | 460 - Downtown Station / Capitol 461 - Downtown Station / Guadalupe 462 - Downtown Station / Riverside |
| Saltillo | None |
| ML King | 18 - Martin Luther King 464 - MLK, Jr. Station / Capitol 465 - MLK, Jr. Station / University of Texas |
| Highland | None |
| Crestview | 320 - St Johns |
| Kramer | 240 - Parkfield |
| Howard | 243 - Wells Branch |
| Lakeline | 214 - Lago Vista Feeder Specific trips suspended on the following routes: 984 - Northwest Direct 987 - Leander/Northwest Express |
| Leander | Specific trips suspended on the following routes: 986 - Leander Direct 987 - Leander/Northwest Express |
Capital Metro Planning Staff will be available to speak directly with citizens regarding route or schedule issues. Citizens are encouraged to attend any of the following meetings or to contact Capital Metro by e-mail at planning@capmetro.org or by calling 474-1200.
We are presenting these recommendations as the first step in the public input process for regular service changes. Public meetings have been scheduled. Meeting dates, times and locations for this period include:
Public Meetings:
Thursday, March 12, 2009
(Capital Metro Downtown Customer Service Center -
323 Congress Ave.), 11:30am - 1:30pm
Thursday, March 12, 2009
(Capital Metro Downtown Customer Service Center -
323 Congress Ave.), 5:30 - 7pm
Public Hearing:
Friday, March 13, 2009
(Capital Metro Main Building - 2910 East 5th St.), 12:30pm
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority
2910 East 5th Street | Austin, Texas 78702 | (512) 389-7400
Specific Route Information | (512) 474-1200