Capital Metro launched two new rapid lines on Feb. 23 that will provide services to several nearby University areas and parts of downtown Austin.
The new CapMetro Rapid Route 837 Expo Center line can take bus riders to the Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, the Dell Medical School and the Texas State Capitol, according to the CapMetro website. The other line, Rapid Route 800 Pleasant Valley, will provide service to areas such as Riverside Drive and Cesar Chavez Street.
Blythe Nebeker, CapMetro interim communications and public information manager, said in an email the rapid lines feature newly designed stations and weather protection panels. The addition of these new lines is part of Project Connect, a city effort to build a new rail line and expand bus routes.
“These new Rapid lines will provide important connectivity options, especially for our East Austin communities,” Nebeker said. “CapMetro’s current Rapid lines have been offering tremendous connectivity for more than a decade, and the agency is proud that the Project Connect program brings this important expansion.”
Nebeker said both lines were supposed to launch in 2023 with a fully electric bus fleet. However, due to “industry-wide supply chain delays and multiple required construction changes” she said the launch was delayed and now includes diesel-powered buses.
The initial phase of the launch will have buses arrive every 20 to 30 minutes, Nebeker said. The goal is for the lines to have net-zero emissions vehicles and for them to arrive every 15 minutes during the weekdays by 2026.
Lance Bolastig, a medical laboratory science senior, rides on CapMetro buses to travel downtown and buy groceries. He said he is looking forward to the new lines opening up around East Austin.
“When me and my friends (want to) go out to eat at very good restaurants, we want something in East Austin,” Bolastig said. “Without the buses, we’d have to drive. Making it more accessible to the everyday person is really good.”
Yves Santoy, an anthropology senior, rides the bus to go to campus and to her internship downtown. She said at times, the traditional CapMetro buses do not arrive on time, making her late for work.
“It’s very inconvenient,” Santoy said. “I would like to have a reliable transportation system in a somewhat big city in Texas, but in the U.S., you can only really get that if you’re in major metropolitan areas.”
Santoy said CapMetro Rapid buses are more reliable than the traditional ones because of the shorter time intervals they will arrive in. She also said she enjoys the newly installed features at the rapid bus stations.
“These awnings, they were never really here a year ago,” Santoy said. “They’re really convenient and nice to have for (protection from) rain and (for) shade.”
Aside from accessing East Austin, Bolastig said the Rapid Route 837 Expo Center line will allow him to travel to more areas in Austin.
“It’s a great idea not only on the sustainability standpoint, but just having accessibility to different parts of downtown,” Bolastig said. “It’s a great initiative for them to be expanding.”
