Whether you’re new to Austin or have lived here for a while, Capital Metro wants to welcome you to the city and help you get out and explore beyond the UT campus! CapMetro is your free ride, no matter if you’re headed to class, the library, a new coffee shop across town or downtown on a Friday night. Yeah, we said FREE! UT students ride CapMetro at no cost by swiping your valid UT student ID. We’ve got lots of ways for you to get around and some insider tips for riding like a pro.

How to Ride UT Shuttles and More

CapMetro and UT go together like peanut butter and jelly – we’re just better together! That’s why we have a designated UT Shuttle system (Routes 640-672) to get you to and from all the places around campus you need to go. While these routes are specifically aimed at UT students and staff and free for you to use, folks not affiliated UT can also ride the shuttle for the cost of our Local fare.

But what about rides outside of the campus area? Still free for you with your valid UT student ID!

CapMetro also operates a High-Frequency Network of routes with buses arriving every 15 minutes, 7 days a week. And 6 of those routes directly serve the UT campus (Routes 7, 10, 18, 20, 801 & 803)! If you’re headed to your stop and watch your bus drive by when you’re still a few blocks away (we’ve all been there!), don’t worry – another bus is on its way to pick you up in just 15 minutes.

A few tips for new riders:

– Have your student ID ready to swipe for easy and quick boarding

– Download the CapMetro App to use our Trip Planner tool and see when the next bus arrives in real time

– Sign up for MetroAlerts for routes you ride often to receive texts about delays or service disruptions

– Once on board, find a seat quickly and secure your belongings. Your mask must remain on for the duration of your ride. Feel free to relax, read or listen to music with headphones. Pro tip: keep one earbud out so you can hear the announcement for your stop!

– To request a stop, pull on the cord or push the “stop” button about one block out from your destination

– Bringing your bike? Load and unload your bike directly in front of the bus or from the curb and make sure to let the operator know you need to unload your bike

– Accidentally leave your backpack on the bus? Reach our Lost & Found by calling 512-389-7454

We recommend grabbing a buddy, planning a practice trip to somewhere fun using the CapMetro App and getting on board to see just how easy it is!

Your Late-Night Ride is On Us

Excited to take on Austin nightlife? CapMetro is your safe and free ride to and from the fun because our late-night services are BACK!

Live on campus? Our E-Bus service, short for Entertainment Bus, is your direct line between UT campus and all the fun downtown Austin has to offer after dark, operating Thursday through Saturday nights between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m.

Monday through Saturday nights, our Night Owl service runs from midnight until about 4 a.m. and operates between popular late-night destinations on 6th Street and local neighborhoods every 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the route.

Don’t go out without a safe plan to get home. Be sure to take your valid UT student ID to count on CapMetro for a free and worry-free ride back home.

Safety is Key

With COVID-19 surging in Austin, we are staying vigilant about our safety and yours. Masks continue to be required both on board our vehicles and while waiting to ride. If you’re feeling sick, we encourage you to stay home and wait to ride until you’re feeling better.

Also, a heads up about general traffic safety:

DO –

• Use crosswalks
• Observe traffic signs
• Stay aware of your surroundings

DON’T –

• Cross front of CapMetro vehicles after exiting
• Be distracted when you’re on the go
• Forget to take a safe ride home after a night out

We look forward to helping you get around and explore Austin this semester. We’ll see you on board for your free ride with your UT student ID and your mask soon!