Capital Metro’s board of directors announced Sept. 14, by a unanimous vote, that it has selected Transportation Management and Design to lead a comprehensive review of the agency’s network. The firm will begin an extensive evaluation of Capital Metro’s bus service to evaluate potential for increasing ridership while exploring ways to improve and enhance the overall rider experience.
The agency will look to Transportation Management and Design (TMD) to use both innovative and proven solutions to help create a more effective and integrated system to address transportation challenges in the rapidly growing Central Texas region. As part of its review, TMD will evaluate how well Capital Metro is meeting the needs of the community and also the goals of the agency. The plan is expected to be completed in the fall of 2016, with implementation expected in 2017.
“Our goal is to rethink and deliver a better bus system for our customers,” said Capital Metro President and CEO Linda Watson. “We are confident Transportation Management and Design is the right company to do that, especially given their proven track record. We’re excited to begin the process, which will include working hand-in-hand with the community over the next year to find out what kinds of improvements they’d like to see.”
Transportation Management and Design is regarded as an industry leader in transit planning, and has conducted over 75 successful system reimagining projects around the country, including Los Angeles, San Francisco and Tampa.
Capital Metro selected the firm through a rigorous and competitive solicitation procurement process spanning more than two months. The agency evaluated the firm’s approach, experience, staff, proposed timeline and understanding of local context before making its final decision. The firm’s recommendations for the transit systems in Los Angeles, Tampa and San Diego allow for major improvements to be made at a net-neutral cost.
Nancy Ledbetter and Associates, a company located in Pflugerville, will also work on the project. The company’s previous experience includes the Mobility 35 project to improve I-35 in Williamson, Travis and Hays Counties.
Capital Metro’s plan will focus on goals established by its board of directors and informed by community-driven feedback that balance difficult trade-offs while prioritizing fiscal responsibility. During the year-long service planning process, Capital Metro, together with its consultant team will lead a robust public involvement process, with engagement opportunities beginning late 2015.
Every five years, Capital Metro updates its service plan, a comprehensive system analysis spanning ten years, which guides the agency’s tri-annual service changes. Capital Metro’s previous long-range planning effort, called Service Plan 2020, was adopted five years ago. As a result of the plan, the agency has:
- Implemented the first transit priority lanes in Austin along Guadalupe and Lavaca, allowing riders to quickly bypass congestion.
- Launched the High-Frequency Route Network along five major routes to add more frequency throughout the day.
- Streamlined routes to eliminate the need for frequent transfers.
- Eliminated poor performing routes, allowing resources to be allocated elsewhere.
- Launched MetroRapid Routes 801 & 803, providing frequent service through the heart of Austin.
In addition to the system-wide review, Capital Metro is currently undertaking several short-term service enhancements, which include adding parking spaces at the Lakeline and Howard Park & Rides to provide more capacity for MetroRail, MetroExpress and Local service customers. An expanded Park & Ride network is also being planned to accommodate new south Austin express routes. Express riders will also benefit when MoPac Express Lanes open in 2016, as transit vehicles will be able to bypass congestion, getting people to their destinations more quickly and reliably.
