CapMetro, the main public transportation authority in Central, Texas, is committed to increasing regional mobility
As a transportation leader serving over 1.2 million people across 543 square miles, CapMetro has been providing multimodal transit services to Central Texas, including Austin, and surrounding communities since 1985.
Transportation & Logistics International joins CapMetro CEO, Dottie Watkins, to find out what is driving the business’ success. She starts by introducing some more details about operations. “We are primarily funded by a local sales tax and have, over the decades, grown into a multimodal organization. We primarily run a bus fleet, but we also have a commuter rail route, and we run several on demand micro transit services. Overall, we provide a great multimodal set of services, but we’re always looking for new ways to help support our community to navigate their journeys.”
The most recent manifestation of CapMetro’s innovation is a transit expansion project called Project Connect. Approved by voters in November 2020, the cost is estimated at $7.1 billion and will be financed with public funds. As Dottie explains, Project Connect covers a variety of high-capacity transit solutions designed to help CapMetro manage a growing region. “In terms of population, the Central Texas region we serve is about two million people and this is continuing to grow, plus we’re seeing a lot of businesses moving here. Project Connect is the strategy we created to provide a world class transit solution for a world class city. It includes services such as rapid bus transit lines, which will fully launch in 2026.” CapMetro is also introducing additional pickup services, as part of its microtransit neighborhood zone-based service, as well as general investments to all routes, such as incorporating zero-emission buses into their fleet, opening a new rail station and new park and ride areas throughout the service area.
Another element of Project Connect is a brand-new light rail line of just over ten miles. Currently going through the initial design, planning and environmental clearance process, the project’s construction phase could begin in the next year and a half, with a target completion of around eight years.
Dottie notes that what makes this project stand out is the true partnership approach that has been adopted by CapMetro, The City of Austin and Austin Transit Partnership (ATP). “Due to how we are governed and structured as the Central Texas transit agency, we needed a partner to help us raise additional tax revenue to fund the project. The City of Austin has that ability and we’ve created a local government corporation called the ATP which is leading the planning, design, construction and implementation of the project, and we work in close partnership with ATP on its delivery.”
Austin Light Rail Phase 1 includes 15 stops connecting key destinations including UT, Downtown, East Riverside and South Congress. It will also add a new bridge across Lady Bird Lake, creating a faster and more reliable way to cross the river during peak travel times. This bridge will also include an additional path for pedestrians and cyclists.
“In addition to the light rail, Project Connect’s other components are equally exciting though less infrastructure-heavy,” Dottie adds. “For example, we are deploying a rapid bus transit program with electric battery buses, and we’re installing end of line charging infrastructure to help keep the buses charged all day, as well as upgraded stops and stations and the new buses themselves!
“This has given us the opportunity to lean into how we evolve our fleet mix over time,” she continues. “We have traditionally been a diesel bus fleet, and this has been a real push to look at what options are out there.”
Beyond infrastructure, sustainability drives many of CapMetro’s operational decisions. “The greenest thing we can do as a public transit agency is to get people out of their cars and onto the bus or the train,” says Dottie. “So, we’re continuously trying to get people to change their behavior and use our shared ride, public transport system.”
Alongside new diesel hybrid buses, CapMetro is installing a 12-acre solar canopy over one of its bus yards, which will generate renewable energy, provide shade to reduce vehicle temperatures, and support charging infrastructure. “All of this helps us deliver a better experience to our customers because ultimately what we want to do is put out a great transit service that people really want to be on, so that we have fewer cars on the road.”
Meeting traveler needs remains the foundation of CapMetro’s operation. “Our ability to have good community partnerships, focus on what the region needs, and
ensure our services fit in with how people need to move around has been crucial – we have had to evolve as our region evolves,” Dottie notes. “We evaluate our service plans every five years, and we are now in the first new phase since Covid changed mobility behavior. We must think about how or if our service delivery needs to change and where we invest our resources to meet these needs. I think what’s made us successful over the last 40 years is always reminding ourselves about what we’re here to do. We will pivot to meet the region’s needs.”
Having strong governance and good transparency have also been extremely important to CapMetro’s success. “We ensure that people understand how our decisions are made and really honor the public engagement feedback that we get. After all, we’re spending the taxpayers’ money in delivering a public good. We need to make sure that we are looking at who has the strongest needs and making sure that we are meeting those needs everywhere we can.”
As Dottie and her team move towards 2026, they can see exciting, albeit challenging times ahead. Central Texas is anticipating massive economic growth, thanks to developments including a new Samsung chip factory and Tesla gigafactory. “We have to think about where our economic centers are, how the region is expanding, and how we can help plan for the future,” agrees Dottie. “We have the good fortune to live somewhere that is growing, and that is a good problem to have, we just need to tackle it together with our partners.”
CapMetro is very proud of its role in providing reliable, accessible, sustainable public transportation to its community. Dottie concludes with an acknowledgement of the crucial role that the team plays in ensuring commuters reach their destinations. “People are our secret sauce,” she says. “Of course, I am biased as a native Austinite and a 30-year employee of CapMetro, but I must recognize all the team members that make it happen every day. We’re all about the people, making sure everyone stays engaged. I’m a firm believer that if you focus on good in the world, good things will come from it. I am always trying to keep that optimism going, and I look forward to continuing to do that work, connecting people, jobs, and communities.”