The year-long Connections 2025 study focused on creating a financially sustainable network that tailors the right service to lifestyle, commuter and coverage markets, anticipating projected growth. By reorganizing bus routes and substituting low-performing service with six Mobility Innovation Zones, the agency will transform its system within its budgetary constraints. These innovation zones will allow Capital Metro to pilot new services that may include on-demand, micro-transit or flex routes, connecting to the larger transit network.
The first year of operations of the new network is expected to cost an additional $9 million, bringing the total to an estimated $267.8 million compared to $259 million for the existing system.
The Connections 2025 plan will guide the evolution of Capital Metro's service over the next five years, and identifies long-range opportunities over the next 10 years. Each implementation phase will require a subsequent public hearing process, and review and approval by the Capital Metro board.
Later this year, Capital Metro will begin hosting public open houses to discuss the first significant phase of changes, anticipated for spring 2018. Changes stemming from Connections 2025 that have already received board approval include the fare restructure implemented on Jan. 8, and improvements to Express service that will operate in the MoPac Managed Lanes.
To date, Capital Metro has met with more than 100 organizations, participated in 125 community meetings with nearly 4,000 attendees, and received 6,500 survey responses related to Connections 2025. The plan has received support from the Downtown Austin Alliance, Rocky Mountain Institute, Urban Transportation Commission, AURA, Alliance for Public Transportation in Austin, Austin Chamber of Commerce, Vision Zero, Pedestrian Advisory Council, Bicycle Advisory Committee, Downtown Commission and Zipcar.
