COVID-19 Update |Click here to stay up-to-date on our COVID-19 guidelines and schedule changes before your next ride.
CapMetro & COVID-19
We’re here for you with answers and support as we all navigate the ongoing pandemic together. From physical distancing protocols to new contactless payment options to enhanced features aboard our vehicles, CapMetro has updated our safety and cleaning measures to ensure you can get where you need to go without adding extra stress to your trip. Whether you’re riding the train or catching your bus, our services continue to be the safe, convenient and affordable option you can count on. Find out more how we’re riding with care.
Your Ride to Receive the Vaccine
CapMetro is providing fare-free rides to individuals traveling to a scheduled vaccine appointment. Simply show proof of your appointment to the operator and enjoy a free ride using any CapMetro service. For customers using Pickup for their free ride, use the code METROVAX in the Pickup app.
Need curb-to-curb transportation to your vaccine appointment? We are offering free rides to and from vaccination sites using our MetroAccess vehicles.
Federal regulations require customers to wear face masks while on transit vehicles and when at our facilities. Face masks must cover your nose and mouth and attach around the ears. Bandanas and other single-ply fabric coverings do not meet this new requirement and will be prohibited.
What CapMetro is doing to address safety concerns
Electrostatic cleaning. This advanced cleaning process sprays electrostatically charged mist throughout the vehicle to ensure surfaces are sanitized.
Air purifiers. Installed on board our vehicles, these devices utilize safe levels of naturally occurring hydroperoxides to eliminate 99% of germs, microbes, viruses and bacteria in air and on surfaces to increase air quality and safety for ridership.
Physical distancing protocols. Don’t think you can socially distance on a bus or train? Think again! CapMetro has adopted physical distancing efforts like adding plexiglass around the operator and signage prompting customers
to “skip a seat” when possible. Schedules have also been adjusted to increase service and to help reduce the number of customers per trip.
Cashless and contact-free payment. CapMetro has introduced new ways to pay to allow customers to ride even more safely and easily. Learn more about buying fares using the CapMetro App, cash to mobile and with our brand new Tap cards.
Masks for staff and customers. While we encourage you to always remember your mask when leaving the house, CapMetro has them available in case you forget. Face masks are required for all customers and staff on CapMetro buses
and trains.
Vinyl seat upgrades. In addition to our new cleaning technology, we are upgrading our seats from fabric covers to vinyl, making them easier to clean.
Hand sanitizer. For your convenience, hand sanitizing stations are available on our vehicles to use as you enter and exit your ride.
How you can ride CapMetro safely during COVID-19
Wear a face mask when riding and waiting to ride. Face masks must cover your nose and mouth and attach around the ears
Follow physical distancing measures by skipping a seat
Avoid riding at peak times and catch an earlier or later trip when possible
Make contact-free fare payments using digital passes on the CapMetro App, cash to mobile or our new Tap cards
Use hand sanitizer when entering and exiting the vehicle
Stay at home if you’re feeling sick or experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19
If you have a disability that affects your ability to wear a face mask, please contact Martin Kareithi, our program manager of accessible services, to request a reasonable modification. Call 512-389-7583 or email martin.kareithi@capmetro.org.
Stay up-to-date on our COVID-19 response
Most MetroBus and MetroRapid services are operating their normal schedules. For detailed route information, visit our Schedules and Maps and select an individual route page.
UT Shuttle services are reinstated as of February 1.
Some MetroExpress routes have been reinstated, though Route 980, Route 981 and Route 987 remain suspended.
MetroRail is operating a Monday-Friday daytime schedule, with no Saturday service and no Late-Night trips on Friday.
Some MetroFlyer routes are operating reduced versions of their weekday schedules.
MetroAccess service operates with service boundaries mirroring our adjusted schedules.
Our response to the pandemic is guided by the need to protect
the health and safety of our staff and our community, as
well as the financial stability of the agency. CARE is what
shapes our decisions:
Most CapMetro services are operating on a modified schedule, including MetroBus, MetroRapid, MetroExpress and MetroRail.
New federal regulations require customers to wear face masks while on transit vehicles and when at our facilities. The face masks must cover your nose and mouth and attach around the ears. Bandanas and other single-ply fabric coverings do not meet this new requirement and will be prohibited.
We've placed signs on most vehicles asking customers to leave empty seats between each other, to allow for social distancing and to give you confidence that riding CapMetro is a safe transportation option. Operators have been instructed to notify their dispatch centers if buses are too crowded to provide safe social distancing. If you don't feel comfortable riding a particular vehicle, please wait for the next bus.
To reduce crowded vehicles, we have increased service on our high-frequency routes. We also recommend avoiding riding at peak times by taking an earlier or later trip.
The latest review of our data shows that system ridership has decreased significantly. That's expected and exactly what should be happening with the shelter-in-place order in effect. We will continue to monitor this closely.
At this time, CapMetro will continue to operate transit services. Public transportation is a critical service in the Austin community and connects community members to vital places, such as hospitals, grocery stores and places of employment. People who do those jobs take care of us, and CapMetro helps them do so.
For this reason, we will continue to offer our services for as long as we can. We will also continue following guidance from Austin Public Health to reduce the risk of COVID-19 for both employees and customers. Our data shows that system ridership has decreased significantly, but that's what should be happening under our shelter-in-place order.
We're slowly returning to regular service and operations and will do so in a way that protects the safety of operators and customers, including the return of fares. In addition to the enhanced bus cleaning practices we've been implementing recently, we also installed plexiglass barriers to separate operators from customers, are requiring everyone on our vehicles to wear face coverings and are recommending customers practice safe physical distancing from each other by leaving empty seats between them and other riders when possible.
