Category Archives: Transit

CapMetro’s Board should utilize transit ridership and transit mode share to evaluate the performance of CapMetro’s CEO.  Evaluation should focus on the public value created by the executive’s actions.

CapMetro bus ridership has remained stagnant for over 15 years even as Austin experienced substantial population growth and bus spending significantly increased. Land use reform by the City and a service strategy shift at CapMetro can end the ridership stagnation era.

This FAQ provides a pro-transit, anti-Proposition 1 perspective. Here’s the extended version of this FAQ.

Earlier today, Project Connect released a methodology memo (PDF version) providing an overview of their approach to estimating ridership.  The memo raises three major concerns, which I describe below.

The proposed urban rail route’s operational costs are too high. This will undermine the overall transit system by slowing down frequency increases for productive bus routes; it could potentially also lead to outright future cuts to system coverage. The likelihood … Continue reading →

This week, the Project Connect staff and consultants are starting to put the finishing touches on their mode and alignment recommendation to the Mayor’s Central Corridor Advisory Group (CCAG).   CCAG will then stamp some version of that recommendation with its … Continue reading →

Last week, Project Connect (PC) held several community workshops to gather input on evaluation criteria and sub-corridor priorities. This is part of the public input process leading up to City Council selecting a ‘locally-preferred alternative’ for the initial sequence of … Continue reading →