SUBJECT:
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Approval of a resolution approving the attached Transit Plan 2035 recommendations and authorizing the President & CEO, or her designee, to finalize Transit Plan 2035 and implement through CapMetro’s customary service change process and in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.
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FISCAL IMPACT:
Other: Fiscal impact was considered throughout the development of Transit Plan 2035. Funding for the recommendations will be identified through the future service changes along with future operating and capital budgets.
STRATEGIC PLAN:
Strategic Goal Alignment:
☒ 1. Customer ☒ 2. Community
☐ 3. Workforce ☒ 4. Organizational Effectiveness
EXPLANATION OF STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT: Transit Plan 2035 was developed to meet Strategic Plan 2030’s Customer Goal, Action 1.4 - Optimize and enhance service by completing and implementing Transit Plan 2035. Transit Plan 2035 will help CapMetro meet its Critical Results to increase ridership in the region, ensure fiscal responsibility, and work to make CapMetro a significant and integral component of transportation in the region.
BUSINESS CASE: Transit Plan 2035 is CapMetro’s roadmap for future transit service. Our recommendations include improvements to bus, rail, and pickup service over the next 5-10 years. This fiscally responsible plan proposes some near-term improvements that can be made with our limited resources (within 5-years) and longer-term improvements that accompany Austin Light Rail and regional growth (5+ year outlook). Within the 5+ year outlook, additional funding and/or partnerships may need to be identified to implement some of the expansions. Overall, the implementation of changes would be phased over time through our service changes process, with opportunities to refine based on new insights and community input.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: The item was presented and recommended for approval by the Operations, Planning and Safety Committee on October 8, 2025.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Transit Plan 2035 is CapMetro’s community and data-driven roadmap for transit service over the next five to ten years. It is the result of a process that took place over the course of 18 months and reached over 10,000 community members. This process included detailed technical analysis, multiple rounds of community and stakeholder engagement, and close collaboration with regional stakeholders and various CapMetro teams. The final preferred network will help CapMetro meet its Critical Results to increase ridership in the region, ensure fiscal responsibility, and help people best get to where they need to go.
Each phase of Transit Plan 2035 will be implemented incrementally through CapMetro’s standard service change process, which includes additional community engagement and Board approval. In addition, CapMetro also updates their Transit Plan every five years, and so some of the recommendations will be further refined around 2030.
There are 3 timeframes in Transit Plan 2035
• Within the next five years, CapMetro will make cost efficient changes focused on growing ridership, helping more people get where they need to go, and specifically, making changes associated with bringing the new Rapid Lines-800 Pleasant Valley and 837 Expo Center-to their full frequency under Project Connect.
• The 5+ Year Outlook plans addresses future growth by making changes to CapMetro’s Bus, Rail, and Pickup network that accompany Austin Light Rail service. It is financially restrained, meaning CapMetro is prioritizing projects based on need; however, implementation of all projects included will still require additional funding outside of CapMetro’s current revenue projections.
• The 10+ year timeframe includes financially unconstrained concepts for what happens after Austin Light Rail is launched and beyond. The proposed changes for 10+ years in the future will address transit system growth throughout the region, and any concepts for Project Connect not implemented in the previous phases.
All Plan materials are available online at Capmetro.org/transit-plan-2035 <https://www.capmetro.org/transit-plan-2035>, including a detailed spreadsheet of proposed changes (Route Matrix), and a high-level overview of each route (Route Profiles). The spreadsheet is available here <https://www.capmetro.org/docs/default-source/plans-and-development-docs/transit>. Materials are available in Spanish and English.
SBE PARTICIPATION: Does not apply.
PROCUREMENT: Does not apply.
RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENT: Strategic Planning and Development
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RESOLUTION
OF THE
CAPITAL METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
STATE OF TEXAS
COUNTY OF TRAVIS
AI-2025-1616
WHEREAS, the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors and CapMetro Management strive to make CapMetro a significant and integral component of transportation in the region by providing service that meets the evolving transportation needs of its communities; and
WHEREAS, Transit Plan 2035 will shape CapMetro’s system over the next 5-10-years; and
WHEREAS, CapMetro aims to efficiently distribute limited resources to best match service with demand, and thus recommends cost-efficient changes within the 5-Year Outlook and fiscally restrained plans in the 5+ Year Outlook; and
WHEREAS, the 5+ Year Outlook aims to thoughtfully plan for improvements that accompany Austin Light Rail and regional growth; and
WHEREAS, Transit Plan 2035 recommendations were derived from extensive data analysis and a robust public engagement effort that reached more than 10,000 community members; and
WHEREAS, CapMetro’s existing service and regional travel patterns were thoroughly evaluated throughout development, demonstrating significant shifts in the community’s travel patterns and travel needs; and
WHEREAS, Transit Plan 2035 recommendations were thoughtfully refined based on valuable community feedback; and
WHEREAS, the final Transit Plan 2035 recommendations align our service with current travel patterns, prepare for high-capacity transit and Project Connect, and explore regional expansion; and
WHEREAS, each phase of Transit Plan 2035 will be implemented through the established service changes process, including potential for refinement based on new insights about travel patterns and community input; and
WHEREAS, the established service change process includes a significant public engagement effort that provides detailed information regarding changes to specific routes and potential customer impact, a Title VI analysis with reporting of findings (as applicable), a public hearing, and approval by the Board of Directors in advance of implementation; and
WHEREAS, CapMetro is aware that future service changes may impact some CapMetro Access customers, and remains committed to engaging potentially affected customers and collaborating with our partners to explore options in advance of potential changes; and
WHEREAS, CapMetro continues to collaborate with Austin Transit Partnership (ATP), the City of Austin, and other regional stakeholders prior to the opening of the Austin Light Rail for key service adjustments and implementation strategies.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors that the President & CEO, or her designee is authorized to finalize the attached Transit Plan 2035 recommendations and implement through CapMetro’s customary service change process and in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.
____________________ Date: ____________________
Secretary of the Board
Becki Ross