Major Projects

CapMetro Rail Improvements

CapMetro is making improvements up and down the 32-mile Rail line. These projects have included better signaling and the addition of new track to create passing points at several locations. That allows us to increase the frequency that Rail trains run, adding great new service for many new customers.

CapMetro Rapid Routes

Among the first services to come online as part of Project Connect will be two new Rapid routes serving East Austin and other parts of the Eastern Crescent. While there are 4 Rapid routes included in Project Connect, the first two broke ground in the winter of 2021-22 and are scheduled to go into service in 2025.

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Electric Fleet

A critical part of Project Connect is the conversion of our fleet to all-electric, zero-emission vehicles. It will be key to the region's efforts to maintain our high quality of life and protect its natural beauty and clean air. In 2021, our board approved the purchase of nearly 200 electric buses. This will occur over the next several years and counts as the nation's largest electrical vehicle procurement.

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Project Connect

Transportation never stops in Central Texas, neither do we. Learn more and join us as we roll out projects throughout the year.

Get in touch about Project Connect by contacting us at feedback@projectconnect.com.

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Connections 2025

Our 5- to 10-year transit plan, Connections 2025 was approved by the board of directors in 2017. Wide ranging and in depth, its recommendations provided the basis for what became the most significant transformation of our bus network in CapMetro's history, Cap Remap. That created a more frequent, more reliable and better connected bus system and paved the way for historic ridership increases in the months and years after its implementation.

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Dedicated Transit Lanes

CapMetro and the city of Austin are making transit a priority by converting some general traffic lanes into bus lanes. This not only allows our vehicles to move through congested areas more smoothly, it also helps the reliability of our entire system, because delays in one area cause ripple effects elsewhere. Not only that, but allowing buses to travel outside of other vehicle traffic speeds car travel by assuring they don't sit behind a bus at a stop. We've painted some of these lanes bright red to indicate clearly these lanes are for transit vehicles.

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Downtown Station

Our new Downtown Station is now open and serving customers with a welcoming public space in the heart of downtown near the Austin Convention Center. The new station, when combined with improvements along the 32-mile MetroRail line and Project Connect's many new services, will unlock the full potential of MetroRail and better connect the entire region.

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Eastside Bus Plaza

Built in partnership with CARTS, the Richard Moya Eastside Bus Plaza connects customers south and east of the CapMetro service area into Central Austin and with the rest of our transit system.

In addition to CARTS routes, several MetroBus routes connect at the Eastside Bus Plaza, including MetroBus 4, MetroBus 17 and MetroBus 217.

North Lamar Transit Center

One of the oldest transfer centers in the CapMetro transit center, the North Lamar Transit Center is a key nexus for a number of routes in North Austin. This project has upgraded the transit center, improving both our operations and the customer experience. Upgrades include better lighting, refurbished amenities and new digital displays with real-time service information.

Norwood Transit Center

The Norwood Transit Center offers bus riders in North Austin more customer amenities and greatly improves the riding experience. A transfer hub for a number of different routes, it also serves as a key connection point.

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Pickup

Pickup provides on-demand transit service within particular service zones. Customers can hail a ride using the Pickup app, and we'll try to be there within 15 minutes. We currently have 11 Pickup zones throughout the Austin area, serving customers in a variety of communities.

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Plaza Saltillo

A significant part of East Austin history, Plaza Saltillo has been refurbished, with new lighting, landscaping and other renovations. It includes our Rail station and is adjacent to the Saltillo Development. CapMetro owns the entire property and has partnered with the neighborhood, the city of Austin and the private sector to add to the community with affordable housing space; new retail locations, offices and restaurants; and market-rate housing.

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Positive Train Control

CapMetro has implemented a federally mandated positive train control (PTC) system to ensure the long-term safety of MetroRail service. PTC systems monitor and control train operations with the goal of protecting trains and passengers.

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Transit Stop Improvements

Over the past couple of years, CapMetro has made a number of improvements to our bus stops. They include new shelters at more than 125 stops, providing shade and better protection from the elements. We've also installed new digital displays at MetroRapid stations and other transit stops throughout the system that provide more information to the customer and better real-time transit data.

Westgate Transit Center

A transit hub located beneath the SH 71 overpass - with free, shaded parking, plus space dedicated for bikes, car-share and other ways for you to connect to your bus - the Westgate Transit Center connects South Austin to the larger transit system and serves 6 routes.

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