Capital MetroBus

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Capital MetroBus
Metro-site-logo.png
New Capital Metro MetroBus, July 2012.jpg
Capital MetroBus in 2012
ParentCapital Metro
FoundedJuly 1, 1985; 36 years ago (1985-07-01)
Headquarters2910 E. Fifth Street, Austin, Texas
LocaleCentral Texas
Service area
  • Austin
  • Travis County
  • Parts of Williamson County
Service type
  • Local bus
  • Express bus
  • BRT
Routes
    • 49 MetroBus
    • 12 Special bus
    • 8 Express bus
    • 19 UT Shuttle bus
Stops2,300
Hubs17 Park and ride/Transit centers
Stations26 MetroRapid station pairs
Fleet
    • 368 Buses
    • 12 E-buses
    • 55 MetroRapid buses
Fuel typeDiesel, Electric
OperatorMV Transportation
Capital Metro president and CEORandy Clarke[1]
Websitecapmetro.org

Capital MetroBus is the bus public transit service of Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Capital Metro) of Austin, Texas and serves Austin and the surrounding areas. MetroBus services include 82 standard routes and 15 high-frequency bus routes as of August 2021. It has several categories of routes: Local, Flyer and Limited, Feeder, Crosstown, Special services and UT Shuttles. Capital Metro also operates an express bus service, MetroExpress, and a bus rapid transit service, MetroRapid, in addition to the agency's commuter rail service, MetroRail.

History[]

At the agency's inception, Capital Metro originally operated a series of "paired" route service where two different routes that pass through downtown are served by the same buses, allowing riders to transfer between certain routes without leaving the bus. Since 2008, this practice has been eliminated and after a number of route pair reassignments, the agency merged the paired routes under single route numbers (for example, the 1 North Lamar and 13 South Congress were originally paired as they were the two busiest routes in the system, but they have since been merged as 1 North Lamar/South Congress).

Meanwhile, most local routes carried two digits before Capital Metro assigned a third digit for routes that do not serve downtown in 2000 (for example, 25 Ohlen became 325). Flyer routes were renumbered altogether to match their local stop counterparts (for example, 65 Manchaca Flyer became 103), while express routes that operated during commute times only contained letters (for example, NEX Northeast Express was renamed 990 Manor/Elgin Express; but was originally 70 Northeast Express).

Vehicles[]

Capital MetroBus in former livery

The majority of the current bus fleet consists of vehicles produced by two manufacturers, Gillig and New Flyer, with only relatively small generational design variations, most visibly in the use of flip-dot destination displays on older series versus LED displays on newer buses. A few smaller series of buses were acquired from other manufacturers, notably Optima (used preferentially on MetroRail shuttles) and MCI (used on express services). Older bus series produced by TMC and Blue Bird are no longer in service.

Standard routes[]

Local[]

MetroBus Local routes are intended to connect specific neighborhoods of Austin to Downtown Austin, with frequent stops. Since June 2014, north–south service within downtown Austin for all routes is provided via Lavaca Street northbound and Guadalupe Street southbound, with all routes serving at least one stop along both streets.

Prior to relocating routes to the Guadalupe/Lavaca corridor, many routes formerly utilized Brazos Street northbound and Colorado Street southbound before various construction projects took place. Since June 2014, the remaining lines no longer use Congress Avenue between 11th Street and Barton Springs Road. East-west service within downtown Austin for all routes is provided via 5th Street eastbound and 4th and 6th Streets westbound, so as to provide a connection along the Lavaca/Guadalupe corridor.

Some MetroBus routes are designated High-Frequency routes and operate with a headway of 15 minutes between buses weekdays, 20 minutes Saturdays. Routes as of September 2021:[2]

MetroBus Local routes MetroBus Local High-Frequency routes
Rt. Name Terminals
Interlines
Created Notes Ref.
1 North Lamar / South Congress Tech Ridge Park and Ride via North Lamar Transit Center E William Cannon at Bluff Springs via South Congress Transit Center
  • Originally 1 North Lamar, paired with 13; merged in Aug 2001
  • Jan 2006 split into 1L and 1M
  • Renamed 1 Metric/South Congress (sometimes 1 North Lamar/ South Congress via Metric) in 2014, Lamar section became 275
  • Jun 3, 2018 rerouted on Lamar and name changed, replacing 275; old route via Metric covered by 325
2 Rosewood San Antonio at W 4th
Airport at Springdale
  • Paired with 10 until Feb 2000
  • Jun 3, 2018 Ledesma, Lott, Prock, and Sara section eliminated
3 Burnet / Manchaca Southpark Meadows
Great Hills at Stonelake
  • Originally 3 Burnet, paired with 17 until Feb 2000 then with 12
  • Aug 2001, merged with 12 as 3 Burnet / Manchaca
  • Feb 2002, extended north to the Arboretum over portions of 244 and 240
4 7th Street 5th at Campbell 7th at Shady
  • Paired with 18 until Aug 2008
  • Jun 3, 2018 service east of Shady on 7th, 183, and Vargas eliminated; renamed 4 7th Street
  • Proposed MetroRapid 804 on remainder of the corridor
[3]
5 Woodrow / Lamar Stagebrush at Monterey Oaks Northcross Mall
  • Originally 5 Woodrow, paired with 26 until Aug 2008; merged with 16 to form 5 Woodrow/South 5th
  • Jun 3, 2018, sections transferred to 105 and 315; service on Monterey Oaks, Staggerbrush, and Roadrunner discontinued; rerouted on Lamar to downtown replacing part of 338
6 East 12th San Antonio at W 4th
Tannehill at Webberville
7 Duval / Dove Springs E William Cannon at Bluff Springs
Crestview station
  • Originally 7 Duval, paired with 27 until Aug 2008 when they merged
  • Aug 2010, 7 extended north to current end replacing part of 339 Walnut Creek / Koenig (39 before February 2001; this section originally part of 24)
  • Jun 3, 2018, service on Peppertree Pkwy discontinued; service on Huntland, St. Johns, and Cameron transferred to 10 and 300
10 South First / Red River Southpark Meadows
Rutherford Wal-Mart
  • Originally 10 South First, paired with 2 until Feb 2000 then 20 until Aug 2008 when 10 merged with 15 to form 10 South First/Red River
  • Jun 3, 2018, service north of ACC Highland transferred to 324; parts of old route covered by 325 and 350
  • Red River section proposed to be covered by the Gold Line as part of Project Connect
[3]
17 Cesar Chavez 8th at Congress Shady Lane at 5th Street
  • Originally 17 Johnston, paired with 3 Burnet until Feb 2000
  • Jun 3, 2018, service to Eastside Memorial High School discontinued; later replaced by Pickup service to 4 or 17
  • Rerouted to ACC Riverside replacing part of 4 until service suspended Aug 18, 2019; 217 Montopolis Feeder replaced that section until long-term construction at the US 183 and Montopolis intersection completes
18 ML King Exposition at Lake Austin Hefflin at Springdale
  • Paired with 4 Montopolis until Aug 2008
  • MetroRapid 818 proposed for this corridor
[3]
19 Bull Creek San Antonio at W 4th
Northcross at Foster
  • Rerouted replacing 23 by fall 1996; old direct route via Wood Hollow, Spicewood Springs, and Anderson discontinued
  • Paired with 29 until Jan 1998
20 Manor / Riverside Austin-Bergstrom International Airport LBJ High School
  • Sometimes signed "20 Manor Road / Riverside"
  • Originally 20 Manor Road / LBJ
  • Portion split off as 120 by Aug 1996
  • Paired with 12 until Feb 2000; then 10 until Aug 2008 when it merged with 26 to form 20 Manor / Riverside
  • Jun 3, 2018, rerouted directly and extended to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport replacing part of 350 and causing 100 to be discontinued. Portion of old route via Wickersham transferred to 310; service on Oltorf and Pleasant Valley covered by 300
  • Riverside section proposed to be covered by the Blue Line (Capital Metro) as part of Project Connect
  • MetroRapid 820 proposed on remainder of the corridor
[3]
30 Barton Creek Square W 8th at Colorado Westgate Transit Center via Barton Creek Square Mall
  • Signed "30 Barton Creek"
  • Paired with 28 until Feb 2000, when 28 was renumbered 328; 30 paired with 328 until Aug 2008
  • Jun 3, 2018, section to South Congress Transfer Center transferred to 315
  • Rerouted to Westgate Transit Center rather than Western Trails Boulevard in Jun 2019
[4]
Former Local routes
Rt. Name Created Eliminated Notes Ref.
1L North Lamar / South Congress Jan 2014
  • Eliminated due to creation of 801; service along Lamar replaced by 275
1M Metric / South Congress Jan 2014
  • Renamed 1 due to creation of 801.
8 Govalle Aug 2001
  • Rerouted over portion of 20 when 20 and 120 were split by fall 1996
  • Renamed 300
9 Enfield / Travis Heights Aug 2010
  • Paired with 14 when 11 eliminated
  • Originally 9 Enfield; August 2008 it replaced 14 and name changed
  • Eliminated due to low ridership; covered by: 21/22 on Exposition, 662 on Enfield, 1 on Congress, 331 on Oltorf, 300 extension on Ben White west of Woodward
  • Service west of MoPac not on Enfield or Exposition not immediately replaced until restored by Pickup; service in Travis Heights neighborhood and on Burleson (from Oltorf to Ben White) not replaced
11 Cherrywood Jan 1994
  • Paired with 14 until eliminated
11 Stassney Aug 1996
12 Manchaca Aug 2001
  • Paired with 20 until Feb 2000 then 3 until 3 and 12 merged
13 South Congress Aug 2001
  • Paired with 1 until merged with it
14 Travis Heights Aug 2008
  • Paired with 11 until 11 eliminated then with 9 until 14 and 9 merged
15 Red River Aug 2008
  • Paired with 16 until 15 merged with 10
16 South Fifth / Westgate Aug 2008
  • Paired with 15 until 16 merged with 5
21 Exposition Jun 3, 2018
  • 21 ran clockwise, 22 ran counterclockwise; signed 21 Exposition Loop; both eliminated at the same time
  • Parts replaced by 335; part covered by 17 and 18; portion on Exposition replaced by Pickup
22 Chicon Jun 3, 2018
  • 21 ran clockwise, 22 ran counterclockwise; signed 22 Chicon Loop; both eliminated at the same time
  • Parts replaced by 335; part covered by 17 and 18; portion on Exposition replaced by Pickup; remainder changed from 22 to 322 as it no longer went through downtown
23 Wood Hollow Jan 1994
  • Merged with 19
23 Johnny Morris Jan 1998 Aug 2010
24 Walnut Creek Jan 1994
  • Merged into 39
25 Ohlen Feb 2000
  • Paired with 3 until Jan 1997 on weekdays, and until Jan 1998 on Saturdays
  • Renamed 325
26 Riverside Aug 2008
  • Paired with 5 until merged with 20
27 Dove Springs Aug 2008
  • Paired with 7 until merged with it 7
28 Ben White Feb 2000
  • Originally paired with 30 until 28 renamed 328
29 Barton Hills Aug 2010
  • Paired with 19 until Jan 1998
  • Eliminated due to low ridership; service on Robert E. Lee Blvd. transferred to 30
31 Oltorf Feb 2001
  • Paired with 46 until Jan 1999
  • Renamed 331
32 Airport Boulevard Feb 2000
  • Combined with 46 and part of 8 to form 350
33 William Cannon Feb 2000
34 Great Hills Jan 1999 Feb 2000
  • Part transferred to 383; remainder redundant with other routes
37 Colony Park Jun 3, 2018
  • Paired with 38 until Aug 2000
  • Rerouted over part of 320; As the route no longer served downtown, renamed 337
38 South Lamar May 2001
  • Paired with 37 until Aug 2000
  • Renamed 338 South Lamar
39 Walnut Creek / Koenig Feb 2001
  • Originally 39 Koenig Lane
  • By fall 1996, rerouted replacing 24 and renamed Walnut Creek / Koenig
  • Renamed 339
40 Parkfield Feb 2000
  • Renamed 240; part transferred to 383
42 Quail Valley / Metric Feb 2000
  • Renamed 242; rerouted off Quail Valley
43 South Oaks Aug 1996
  • Originally 43 Southwest Oaks; extended and renamed by Jan 1994
  • Renumbered 203/204
44 Cedar Bend Feb 2000
  • Originally 44 Balcones Northwest
  • Rerouted and renamed 44 Cedar Bend
  • Renamed 244
45 Copperfield Feb 2000
46 Bergstrom Feb 2000
  • Paired with 31 until Jan 1999
  • Combined with 32 and part of 8 to form 350
47 East 26th Street Jan 1998
  • Created between May 1994 and August 1996
91 East Lakeline Aug 1996
92 West Lakeline Aug 1996
111 Stassney Aug 1996 Feb 2000
  • Renumbered from 11; renamed 311; number later reused.
120 St. Johns Aug 1996 Feb 2001
  • Replaced St. Johns section of 20; extended east replacing 208 in Jan 1998
  • Renamed 320
151 Allandale Jan 2014
  • Split from 51
  • Renamed 491
161 Delwood Jan 2014
201 North Loop Jan 1998
202 45th Street Jan 1997
  • Went in the opposite direction as 201
  • Eliminated when 201 rerouted and became an independent route
202 Battle Bend Jan 2010
  • Eliminated due to low ridership.
203 Buckingham Circulator Aug 2002
  • Originally 43 South Oaks, renumbered when route extended to Buckingham
  • Renamed 252 and western part eliminated
204 Southwest Oaks Circulator Aug 2002
  • Originally 43 South Oaks, renumbered when route extended to Buckingham
  • Renamed 252 and western part eliminated
205 East Lakeline Jun 1997
  • Formerly 91
206 West Lakeline Jun 1997
  • Formerly 92
208 East Austin Circulator Aug 1997
  • Merged into 120
209 Lohmans Aug 1996 Aug 1997
  • Served The Island, Bar K Ranch, and City Hall area
  • Discontinued due to low ridership; Bar K Ranch and City Hall area service merged into 102
238 Westgate Jun 3, 2018
  • Created from part of 338
  • Renumbered 318 and extended east via Slaughter Lane
240 Rutland Feb 2000 Jun 3, 2018
  • Renamed from 40
  • Section on Kramer eliminated; section on Braker transferred to 392 in Feb 2002
  • Rerouted north on Parkfield replacing part of 244; rerouted several times, until August 2010
  • Portions replaced by 324; sections covered by 803, 466, and 325; other portions lost service until restored by Pickup
242 Metric Feb 2000 Jan 2006
  • Renamed from 42
  • Eliminated in January 2006; part became branch of 1; rest renamed 243
244 Cedar Bend Feb 2000 Feb 2002
  • Renamed from 44 Cedar Bend
  • Part transferred to 3; part to 240; remainder renumbered 391
245 Copperfield Feb 2000 Feb 2002
  • Renamed from 45
  • Part transferred to 1; remainder renumbered 392
252 Buckingham Slaughter Jan 2006
  • Became 201; section through Buckingham eliminated due to low ridership

Limited and Flyer[]

Capital Metro's Limited and Flyer routes are limited stop services between two destinations. Limited routes tend to have fewer stops compared to their local counterparts, while Flyer routes serve nonstop between downtown or the UT campus and their neighborhoods of service. Limited and Flyer routes are designated by routes 100–199. Routes as of September 2021:[2]

MetroBus Flyer routes
Rt. Name Terminals
Interlines
Created Notes Ref.
103 Manchaca Flyer Slaughter at Manchaca Deen Keeton at Guadalupe Aug 2001
  • Renamed from 65
  • Rush hour service: northbound in the morning peak, southbound in the afternoon peak
  • No boarding beyond Manchaca at Prather traveling northbound or beyond N Lamar at W 5th southbound
105 South 5th Flyer UT/ West Mall Westgate Mall Jun 3, 2018
  • Replaced part of 5
111 South Mopac Flyer Escarpment at South Bay San Jacinto at Dean Keeton
  • Rush hour service: northbound in the morning peak, southbound in the afternoon peak
  • Proposed to be rerouted via Mopac to a new Park and Ride at Slaughter as part of Project Connect
[5]
135 Dell Limited E 7th at Pleasant Valley Tech Ridge Park and Ride
  • Rush hour service: northbound in the morning peak, southbound in the afternoon
142 Metric Flyer S Congress at Riverside Amherst at Duval Aug 2001
  • Renamed from 62
  • Rush hour service: southbound in the morning peak, northbound in the afternoon
  • No boarding beyond W Rundberg at N Lamar when traveling southbound, Congress at 18th northbound
152 Round Rock Tech Ridge Limited Tech Ridge Station Baghdad at Brown Jan 2020
171 Oak Hill Flyer Silver Mine at SH 71 Red River at E 32nd Aug 2001
  • Rush hour service (except a single reverse peak run midday): northbound in the morning peak, southbound in the afternoon
  • Renamed from 63
Former Limited and Flyer routes
Rt. Name Created Eliminated Notes Ref.
41L Wells Branch Limited Jan 1994
52 Round Rock Tech Ridge Aug 2016 Jan 2020
  • Renumbered 152 because route is limited-stop
61 Dove Springs Flyer Aug 2001
62 Metric Flyer Aug 2001
63 Oak Hill Flyer Aug 2001
  • Formerly OKX
  • Renamed 171
64 South Central Flyer Aug 2001
65 Manchaca Flyer Aug 2001
66 North Central Flyer 1996
  • Eliminated and replaced by 74 and 201/202
67 Cameron Road Flyer Aug 2001
  • Eliminated due to low ridership.
68 MLK Flyer Aug 1997
  • Eliminated due to low ridership.
74 North Burnet Flyer Feb 2001
  • Number chosen as express of 44
  • Originally 74 William Cannon/Parmer Express until Jan 1997
  • Renamed 174
101 North Lamar Limited Jun 1999 Jan 2014
  • Initially trial route planned to end Jan 2000, but successful enough it was kept
  • Eliminated due to creation of 801
110 South Central Flyer Aug 2001 Jun 3, 2018
  • Renamed from 64
  • Rush hour service; northbound in the morning peak, southbound in the afternoon
  • No boarding beyond S 1st at Stassney traveling northbound, S 1st at Barton Springs southbound
122 Four Points Limited Jun 3, 2018
  • Eliminated due to low ridership
  • Proposed to be restored as part of Project Connect, but would only go from Downtown to proposed Four Points Park-and-Ride; will not have service from the Four Points Park-and-Ride to Lakeline; would also stop at a proposed Park-and-Ride at RM 2222 & Loop 360
[3]
127 Dove Springs Flyer Aug 2001 Jun 3, 2018
  • Renamed from 61 Dove Springs Flyer
  • Rush hour service; northbound in the morning peak, southbound in the afternoon
  • No boarding beyond E Stassney at I-35 traveling northbound, E Cesar Chavez at Trinity southbound
137 Colony Park Flyer
  • Eliminated due to low ridership.
150 Round Rock Howard Station Limited Jan 2020
  • Replaced limited-stop portion of 50
174 North Burnet Limited
  • Eliminated due to low ridership.
495 Dell Jan 2006

Feeder[]

Capital Metro's Feeder routes are local services between a neighborhood and a major transfer point for connecting service. Feeder routes are designated by routes 200–299. Routes as of September 2021:[2]

MetroBus Feeder routes
Rt. Name Terminals Created Notes Ref.
201 Southpark Meadows Akins High School E William Cannon at Bluff Springs
  • Some services short-turn at Southpark Meadows
214 Northwest Feeder Thunderbird at Dawn Lakeline Station Aug 2000
  • Renamed from 102
  • Renamed from 214 Lago Vista Feeder
228 VA Clinic Metropolis at Veteran's Center ACC Riverside Jan 2000
  • Renamed from 28
  • August 2010 renamed from 328
  • June 3, 2018, changed from 228; service on Burleson, 71, Todd, and Woodward discontinued due to low ridership; rerouted replacing part of 331
233 Decker/Daffan Lane Manor at Ed Bluestein Loyola at Wentworth
  • Formerly 233 Far Northeast Feeder
237 Northeast Feeder Manor at Ed Bluestein Community First! Village
243 Wells Branch Howard station Tech Ridge Park and Ride
  • Replaced part of 242
271 Del Valle Flex ACC Riverside Rass Road Jan 2010
Former Feeder routes Former Feeder High-Frequency routes
Rt. Name Created Eliminated Notes Ref.
39A CF Cedar Feeder Jan 1994
41 LVF Lago Vista Feeder Aug 1996
102 LVF Lago Vista Feeder Aug 2010
275 North Lamar Feeder 2014 Jun 3, 2018
  • Created from part of 1
  • Now covered by 1
217 Montopolis Feeder Aug 2019
  • Temporary route replacing portion of 17
  • Will become part of 17 again when long-term construction at US 183 and Montopolis intersection complete

Crosstown[]

Capital Metro's Crosstown routes are local services between two neighborhoods of Austin, for which the route does not pass through Downtown Austin or the University of Texas. Some Crosstown routes are designated High-Frequency routes and operate with a headway of 15 minutes between buses weekdays, 20 minutes Saturdays. Crosstown routes are designated by routes 300–399.

MetroBus Crosstown routes MetroBus Crosstown High-Frequency routes
Rt. Name Terminals
Interlines
Created Notes Ref.
300 Springdale/Oltorf Crestview Station
Westgate Transit Center Aug 2001
  • Renamed from 8; extended south of Oltorf & Burton in Aug 2010 due to elimination of 9
  • Jun 3, 2018 rerouted to Westgate Mall replacing most of 331; route to south Congress Transfer Center transferred to 310; rerouted on 51st, Cameron, and St. Johns (replacing parts of 37 and 320); old Route along Berkman transferred to 10; service on Rogge discontinued, later restored by Pickup
  • Rerouted to Westgate Transit Center rather than Western Trails Boulevard Jun 2019
[4]
310 Parker/Wickersham ACC Riverside South Congress Transit Center Jun 3, 2018
  • Replaced parts of 20, 331, and 300
  • Rerouted to Westgate Transit Center rather than Western Trails Boulevard Jun 2019
[4]
311 Stassney ACC Riverside Westgate Transit Center
Feb 2000
  • Renamed from 111
  • Rerouted to Westgate Transit Center rather than Western Trails Boulevard Jun 2019
[4]
315 Ben White South Congress Transit Center ACC Pinnacle Jun 3, 2018
  • Replaced parts of 30 and 5
  • Rerouted to Westgate Transit Center rather than Western Trails Boulevard Jun 2019
[4]
318 Westgate/Slaughter Aftonshire at Nightjar Westgate Transit Center Jun 3, 2018
  • Renumbered from 238; extended east on Slaughter to Thaxton at Panadero
  • Rerouted to Westgate Transit Center rather than Western Trails Boulevard Jun 2019
[4]
322 Chicon/Cherrywood RBJ Center Hancock Shopping Center Jun 3, 2018
  • Renumbered and shorted from 22
323 Anderson Northcross Mall via North Lamar Transit Center
Rutherford Wal-Mart
Aug 2010
  • Renamed from 23; extended over the eastern half of 339
  • Jun 3, 2018, split, and section east of the Wal-Mart renamed 339
324 Georgian / Ohlen Northcross at Foster
Highland Station Jun 3, 2018
325 Metric / Rundberg Tech Ridge Park and Ride Rutherford Wal-Mart Feb 2000
  • Renamed from 25
  • Jun 3, 2018, rerouted to Tech Ridge Park and Ride replacing part of 1; name changed from 325 Ohlen; route to Northcross transferred to 324
333 William Cannon ACC Pinnacle Onion Creek at Pleasant Valley / Thaxton at Panadero Feb 2000
  • Renamed from 33
  • Jun 3, 2018, rerouted so it alternates between serving William Cannon/Brush Country and serving both Convict Hill/Woodcreek and ACC Pinnacle
  • Trips eastbound serve one terminus before serving the other; first terminus served depends on time of day and day of week
335 35th / 38th Street Exposition at Westover Mueller Jun 3, 2018
  • Replaced part of 21/22
337 Koenig/Colony Park Balcones at Burnet Colony Loop at Decker Jun 3, 2018
  • Renumbering of 37; rerouted west over part of 320
339 Tuscany Rutherford Wal-Mart
Manor at Ed Bluestein
Jun 3, 2018
  • Replaced part of 323; small portion was part of 339
345 45th Street Burnet at North Loop Hancock Shopping Center Jun 3, 2018
  • Replaced part of 338
  • Proposed to be extended west to Bull Creek
[5]
350 Airport Boulevard North Lamar Transit Center
ACC Riverside Feb 2000
  • Created as a merge of 32, 46 and part of 8
  • Jun 3, 2018, section south of ACC Riverside transferred to 20
383 Research North Lamar Transit Center
Lakeline Station
392 Braker Kramer Station
Tech Ridge Park and Ride
  • Jun 3, 2018 service to the Arboretum discontinued; replaced by 383
Former Crosstown routes Former High-Frequency Crosstown routes
Rt. Name Created Eliminated Notes Ref.
320 St. Johns Feb 2001 Jun 3, 2018
328 Ben White Feb 2000 Aug 2010
  • Renamed from 28; paired with 30 until Aug 2008
  • Service west of Congress Avenue rerouted to Congress Transit Center, became extension of 30; east of Congress Avenue remained, rerouted to Congress Transit Center and renamed 228
331 Oltorf Feb 2001 Jun 3, 2018
338 Lamar / 45th May 2001 Jun 3, 2018
  • Renamed from 38 due to rerouting away from downtown
  • Section later renumbered 238
339 Walnut Creek / Koenig Feb 2001 Aug 2010
  • Renamed from 39
  • East of IH-35 became part of 323; west of IH-35 became part of 320
  • Number reused Jun 2018 when 323 split
391 Parmer
  • Eliminated due to low ridership.

Round Rock[]

Capital Metro operates several services in the suburb Round Rock. Round Rock is not a Capital Metro member city and therefore doesn't pay the 1% sales tax to Capital Metro. Instead, Round Rock contracts Capital Metro to provide certain mass transit services for the city. Round Rock services are designated as 50-99 and 152. Capital Metro also operates MetroExpress route 980 North MoPac Express and Flyer service 152 Round Rock Tech Ridge Limited between downtown Austin and Round Rock. Routes as of September 2021:[2]

MetroBus Round Rock routes
Rt. Name Terminals Created Notes Ref.
50 Round Rock Howard Station Hesters Crossing / Kouri ACC Round Rock August 2016
  • Jan 2020, limited-stop portion split off as 150
[4]
51 Round Rock Circulator Louis Henna at I-35 Park Valley at Oakwood August 2016

Special service[]

Capital Metro's special service routes are routes that do not fit in any other category. Special service routes are designated as routes 400–499.

Night Owl[]

Night Owl buses are overnight services.

MetroBus Night Owl services
Rt. Name Terminals Created Notes Ref.
481 Night Owl North Lamar 6th at Congress N Lamar at W Rundberg
  • Named 481 Night Owl North until Aug 2012
483 Night Owl Riverside 6th at Congress Oltorf at Burton
  • Named 483 Night Owl Southeast until Aug 2012
484 Night Owl South Lamar 6th at Congress Victory at Ben White
  • Aug 2012, section along South 1st eliminated; renamed to remove South 1st from name
485 Night Owl Cameron 6th at Congress Rutherford Wal-Mart
  • Aug 2012, consolidated and replaced part of 482; old route along IH-35 and Cameron eliminated
486 Night Owl South Congress 6th at Congress Pleasant Valley at E William Cannon
  • Aug 2012, renamed from 486 Night Owl Dove Springs; rerouted off William Cannon going east
Former Night Owl routes
Rt. Name Created Eliminated Notes Ref.
482 Night Owl East
  • Consolidated with 485; section along Rosewood east of Airport, Springdale, 7th and others to Downtown eliminated

E-Bus[]

Capital Metro has, since September 19, 2002,[6][7] operated "E-Bus" routes, to ferry students between student residential areas to the 6th Street area. These buses run only evenings and late nights on weekends and do not run in summer.[8] The E in "E-Bus" stands for "eating and entertainment" and funding was initially provided by companies advertising on the bus.[9] On April 1, 2010, the Daily Texan reported that, in an attempt to curb passenger unruliness, Capital Metro was requiring students swipe their student IDs before boarding and that UT would start paying for some of the services.[10]

MetroBus E-Bus services
Rt. Name Terminals Created Notes Ref.
410 E-Bus/West Campus Nueces at W 27th Colorado at W 6th
411 E-Bus/Riverside Crossing Place Colorado at W 6th
412 E-Bus/Main Campus Guadalupe at W 21st Colorado at W 6th

Other special services[]

Routes as of September 2021:[2]

MetroBus special services
Rt. Name Terminals Created Notes Ref.
465 MLK/University of Texas San Jacinto at E 23rd MLK Jr. Station
466 Kramer/Domain Pickle Research Campus ACC Northridge via Kramer station
  • Circular service, runs counterclockwise
  • Formerly 466
  • Alternates between serving Pickle Research Campus and ACC Northridge
  • Proposed to be converted to local route as part of Project Connect
[5]
490 HEB Shuttle E Riverside at Pleasant Valley RBJ Center / E Cesar Chavez at Trinity February 2001
  • Midday service only, four days a week
  • Monday and Thursday terminates at E Cesar Chavez at Trinity; Wednesday and Friday terminates at RBJ Center
  • Formerly 90
491 Allandale N Lamar at W 38th Rockwood at Ashdale
  • Midday service only; runs Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
  • Curb-to-curb paratransit service operating along fixed route
  • Formerly 151; one part renamed 161
492 Delwood Hancock Center Rutherford Wal-Mart
  • Midday service only; runs Monday, Wednesday, Friday
  • Curb-to-curb paratransit service operating along fixed route
  • Renamed from 161
493 Eastview Airport & Oak Springs Downtown Austin
  • Midday Monday service only
Former special service routes
Rt. Name Created Eliminated Notes Ref.
90 HEB Shuttle May 1998 Feb 2001
91 ACC Shuttle Jan 1999 May 1999
  • Demonstration route
93 Lakeline Shuttle Aug 1996
94 Day Labor Shuttle Jan 1997
  • Feb 2000 revived as 499
207 Lakeline Shuttle Jan 1997
  • Formerly 93
210 Hobby Shuttle Jan 1999 Aug 1999
  • Demonstration route
401 Sunset/3M Shuttle
402 Sunset/3M Shuttle
420 Convention Shuttle North
421 Convention Shuttle South
422 Convention Shuttle Town Lake
424 Sunrise/3M/Travis Square Shuttle
425 Sunrise/3M/Travis Square Shuttle
430 Pease Elem & Kealing
431 Campbell Elem & Kealing
432 TX Academy & Kealing
434 Barbara Jordan
435 Texas Academy
440 Tech Ridge Circulator
445 New Life Shuttle 2019 2019
  • Ran only during SXSW 2019
451 Downtown/Saltillo Shuttle Nov 2019
  • Weekday service while Downtown station closed; late night service on Fridays; eliminated after Downtown station reopened
455 Leander Shuttle Aug 16, 2020
  • Saturday service only
460 Downtown - Congress
461 Downtown - Guadalupe
462 Downtown - Riverside
464 Capitol MetroRail Connector Jun 3, 2018
  • Rush hour service
  • Replaced by 18
470 Tour the Town
470 Manor Flex Jun 2019
  • Replaced by Pickup
[4]
499 Day Labor

MetroExpress[]

Capital MetroExpress bus in 2015

Capital Metro's Express services are limited stop services that run between Downtown Austin and the far suburbs. Express routes are designated as routes 900–999, and are served exclusively by buses in the red "MetroExpress" livery (though on occasions they may be served by buses in the regular Capital Metro livery as well).

MetroExpress routes
Rt. Name Terminals
Interlines
Created Notes Ref.
935 Tech Ridge Express E Riverside at I-35 Tech Ridge Park and Ride
May 2000
  • Renamed from 79
  • Rush hour service: southbound in morning peak, northbound in afternoon
  • No boarding except at Tech Ridge Park and Ride when traveling southbound
980 North Mopac Express Dean Keeton at Speedway Century Park at Ida Ridge
  • Three additional trips in each direction to Baghdad at Brown in Round Rock during peak hours
  • No boarding at points past Howard station traveling southbound
981 Oak Knoll Express Dean Keeton at Speedway Pavilion Park and Ride
  • Three trips in each direction only during peak hours
  • No boarding at points past W Cesar Chavez & West Avenue traveling southbound
982 Pavilion Express W 4th at Guadalupe Pavilion Park and Ride
  • Rush hour and midday service: Rush hour service southbound in morning peak, northbound in afternoon; midday service both directions
  • No boarding at points past W 38th at N Lamar travelling in either direction
985 Leander/Lakeline Direct San Jacinto at Dean Keeton Leander Station via Lakeline Station
  • All day on weekdays; Saturday evening service until Saturday MetroRail resumed
  • No boarding at points past Lakeline Station traveling southbound
987 Leander/Northwest Express E Riverside at I-35 Leander Station via Lakeline Station
  • Rush hour service: southbound in morning peak, northbound in afternoon
  • No boarding at points past Lakeline Station traveling southbound
990 Manor/Elgin Express W 2nd at Guadalupe Elgin Depot Aug 2000
  • Renamed from 103
  • Rush hour service: westbound in morning peak, eastbound in afternoon
  • Service between Manor Park and Ride and Elgin Depot provided by Capital Metro on behalf of CARTS; passengers must pay additional CARTS fare when traveling further east than Manor Park and Ride in either direction
Former MetroExpress routes
Rt. Name Created Eliminated Notes Ref.
69 IRS IRS/VA Express Aug 2001
  • Eliminated due to low ridership
70 NEX Northeast Express Aug 1996
71 LX Leander Express Aug 2001
79 PX Pflugerville Express May 2000
103 NEX Northeast Express Aug 2000
  • Renamed 990
  • Number later reused
211 Capitol Express (South) Jan 1999 May 1999
  • Demonstration route
212 Capitol Express (North) Jan 1999 May 1999
  • Demonstration route
  • Replaced by 101
970 Lantana Express Jun 3, 2018
  • Revival of former 70
  • Rush hour reverse-peak service: southbound in morning peak, northbound in afternoon
  • Eliminated due to low ridership
983 North US 183 Express Jan 2018
984 Northwest Direct via IH35
  • Consolidated with 986 to form 985
985 Leander/Downtown Express Aug 2001
986 Leander Direct via IH35
  • Consolidated with 984 to form 985

MetroRapid[]

In January 2014, Capital Metro launched a bus rapid transit service branded "MetroRapid," utilizing articulated buses operating in shared lanes with automobile traffic. Service on the first route, MetroRapid North Lamar/South Congress (801), began on January 26, 2014.[11] It replaced existing bus Routes 1L and 1M, as well as the 101 Express, which traveled along the same corridor.

A second route, MetroRapid Burnet/South Lamar (803), serves a total of 24 stations between The Domain and Westgate.[12] Both the 801 and 803 drew citizen protest until premium fares were discontinued in 2017 and the 801 had also reduced frequency of the then operating 1L/1M.

UT Shuttle[]

A Capital Metro bus painted in University of Texas at Austin colors. The orange and white buses have now all been retired.

The University of Texas Shuttle system, operated by Capital Metro, is one of the largest university transit systems in the United States. It comprises 10 routes and carries over 5.2 million passengers a year. UT students, faculty, and staff may ride the shuttles at no charge with a valid UT photo ID. Without a UT photo ID, normal MetroBus rates apply.[13][14]

UT Shuttle history[]

Capital Metro took over university shuttle operations in 1989. Formerly, service had been provided by private bus companies. Immediate changes included upgraded buses with air conditioning, but also lengthening headway on some routes.[15]

In 1983, the University of Texas received six bids to manage the shuttle system. Capital Metro entered into the picture in 1988, when the university contracted out to them. Capital Metro, in turn, then subcontracted out to Laidlaw International, Inc., who had, up to that point, operated orange and white school buses[16] for the university on a contractual basis. Rather than use Laidlaw's existing bus fleet, however, Capital Metro used their own. In so doing, Capital Metro brought air conditioning and wheelchair accessibility to the shuttle service for the first time.[17] The transition, however, was not without controversy. Among the other contested issues was the fact that these new shuttles didn't have a stereo system[18][19]

In 1991, Capital Metro canceled its contract with Laidlaw and contracted out with DAVE Transportation, instead[20][21]

Amidst allegations of union busting, in 1999, Capital Metro canceled its then current contract and instead contracted out with ATC/Vancom, instead[21][22][23] Six years later, in 2005, Capital Metro, citing concerns over the comparatively low wages ATC/Vancom paid, negotiated a contract with First Transit to operate the UT shuttle buses.[24]

UT Shuttle routes[]

The UT Shuttle system includes a number of routes during the University of Texas semester. They do not operate on Saturdays, except during finals. Since September 2014, numbered routes have been used exclusively at bus stops, though signage on buses may use either numbered or lettered signage.

Routes as of September 2021:[25]

UT Shuttle
Route Name Terminals Created Notes Ref.
No. Let.
640 FA Forty Acres E 23rd at San Jacinto Guadalupe at W 23rd
  • Circular service, runs clockwise
  • Formerly 54, then west half 54
641 EC East Campus E 23rd at San Jacinto UFCU Disch-Falk Field
  • Circular service, runs clockwise
  • Formerly 60, east half 54, DF Disch-Falk
642 WC West Campus San Jacinto at E 23rd San Gabriel at W 25th
  • Circular service, runs counterclockwise
  • Formerly 50
656 IF Intramural Fields E 26th at San Jacinto Guadalupe at W 51st
  • Formerly 56
661 FW Far West Dean Keeton at Speedway Village Center
  • Formerly 55
663 LA Lake Austin Whitis at W 21st Kermit at Jasper
  • Also serves Downtown Austin
  • Formerly 57
670 CP Crossing Place E 23rd at San Jacinto 1300 Crossing Place
671 NR North Riverside E 23rd at San Jacinto Wickersham at Elmont
  • Formerly 58
672 LS Lakeshore E 23rd at San Jacinto Lakeshore at E Riverside
Former UT Shuttle routes
Route Name Created Eliminated Notes Ref.
No. Let.
48 Red River/UT
49 Parker Lane/UT
  • Originally 49
  • Renamed 673
50 West Campus/UT
  • Renamed 642
  • Number later reused
51 Cameron Road/UT
  • Renamed 651
  • Number later reused
52 ?/UT Jan 1994
  • Number later reused
52 Pickle Research Campus/UT
  • Created between May 1994 and Aug 1996
  • Renamed 652
  • Number was reused
53 Enfield Road/UT
54 Forty Acres/UT
  • Merged with 60 to form new 54 by fall 1996
54 Campus Loop/UT
55 Far West/UT
56 Intramural Fields/UT
57 Lake Austin/UT
58 North Riverside/UT
59 Wickersham Lane/UT
  • Originally 59 Pleasant Valley/UT; renamed when no longer served Pleasant Valley
  • Renamed 675
60 East Campus/UT 1996
  • Merged into 54
80 Red River/Cameron Road/UT
81 Intramural Fields/Far West/UT
82 Burton Drive/Parker Lane/UT
83 Forty Acres/East Campus/UT Aug 1996
  • Eliminated when routes 54 and 60 were merged to form 54
84 Burton Drive/UT
85 Wickersham Lane/North Riverside/UT
651 CR Cameron Road
  • Formerly 51
652 PR Pickle Research Campus
  • Formerly 52
653 RR Red River Jun 3, 2018
  • Formerly 48
662 ER Enfield Road
  • Formerly 53
673 PL Parker Lane
  • Formerly 49
674 BD Burton Drive
  • Formerly 84
675 WL Wickersham Lane
  • Formerly 59
676 PB Parker/Burton
682 BD/PL Burton + Parker
  • Formerly 82
683 ER/LA Enfield Road + Lake Austin
684 CR/RR Cameron Road + Red River
  • Formerly 80
685 WL/CP Wickersham Lane + Crossing Place
CL Campus Loop
  • Formerly 83 FA/EC Forty Acres/East Campus then 54
  • Split into 2 routes
680 NR/LS North Riverside/Lakeshore
  • Overnight
  • Formerly 680 NR/WL, formerly 85
681 IF/FW Intramural Fields/Far West
  • Sunday afternoon and evening
  • Formerly 81

Former services[]

Dillo[]

Capital Metro's Dillo service used forest-green trolleys

Capital Metro's Dillo service was a circulator service in downtown Austin. In May 2000, the Dillo service went through a major restructuring. It was shut down in 2009 after over 30 years of operation due to low ridership.[26] The service used forest-green trolley buses with an armadillo painted on the side. It was free until shortly before to its closure when Capital Metro began charging a 50¢ fare.[27]

Former Dillo routes
Rt. Name Created Eliminated Notes Ref.
85 Convention Center/UT 'Dillo (Red Line) 1996
86 Congress/Capitol 'Dillo (Blue Line) May 2000
87 ACC/Lavaca 'Dillo (Green Line) May 2000
88 Old Pecan Street 'Dillo May 2000
  • Renamed 451 Silver 'Dillo
89 'Dillo Dash January 1999 May 2000
450 Orange 'Dillo
451 Silver 'Dillo May 2000
  • Renamed from 88 Old Pecan Street Dillo
  • Number later reused
455 Red 'Dillo
  • Number later reused
456 Gold 'Dillo
461 Yellow 'Dillo
  • Number later reused
462 Blue 'Dillo
  • Number later reused
463 Starlight 'Dillo
464 Moonlight 'Dillo
  • Number later reused

MetroAirport[]

Capital MetroAirport Flyer in its specialized livery

The MetroAirport service (sometimes called MetroAirport Flyer) was created when Austin–Bergstrom International Airport opened in May 1999. It was primarily served by buses carrying the "MetroAirport" livery, though may on occasion have been served by buses in the regular livery. The service was eliminated on June 3, 2018, and replaced by the extension of 20.

Former MetroAirport routes
Rt. Name Created Eliminated Notes Ref.
100 MetroAirport Flyer May 1999 June 3, 2018

See also[]

  • Texas Department of Transportation
  • Dallas Area Rapid Transit
  • Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County

References[]

  1. ^ "Executive Staff". Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e "MetroBus". Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e (PDF) https://capmetro.org/uploadedFiles/New2016/ProjectConnect_Vision/Home/PC_ServiceLevelMap.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "June 2019 Service Changes". Capital Metro. Archived from the original on 2019-05-09.
  5. ^ a b c "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-05-09. Retrieved 2019-05-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ^ "Cap Metro warns rowdy E-Bus riders". The Daily Texan. March 25, 2010. Archived from the original on March 28, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-01.
  7. ^ "Sixth Street shuttle bus to start running tonight". The Daily Texan. September 19, 2002.
  8. ^ "Special Services: Getting Around Downtown Bus Routes 400-499". Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Austin, Texas. Archived from the original on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2011-06-23.
  9. ^ "Shuttle to take partiers downtown". The Daily Texan. August 28, 2002.
  10. ^ "E-Bus moves toward stricter policies, monitoring". The Daily Texan. April 1, 2010. Archived from the original on April 3, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-01.
  11. ^ Aaron, Michael (26 January 2014). "Capital Metro rolls out MetroRapid, new fares". kxan.com. KXAN News. Archived from the original on 24 March 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  12. ^ "Routes and Destinations". Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on 2014-03-24. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  13. ^ "Shuttles". UT Parking and Transportation Services. Archived from the original on September 6, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  14. ^ Wear, Ben (July 18, 2010). "UT's Shuttle Subsidy Under Scrutiny". Austin American=Statesman. Archived from the original on July 26, 2010. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  15. ^ "A Battle on the Shuttle". The Austin Chronicle. May 21, 2004. Archived from the original on 2011-06-05. Retrieved 2008-08-25.
  16. ^ "Capital Metro: Is It Worth the Wait?". Cactus Yearbook. May 1990. pp. 28–29. Archived from the original on 2012-05-14. Retrieved 2008-08-25.
  17. ^ "City buses take over UT shuttle system". The Daily Texan. August 10, 1989.
  18. ^ "Capital Metro debut earns mixed reviews". The Daily Texan. August 29, 1989.
  19. ^ "Shuttle drivers argue need for some "friendly sounds' on". The Daily Texan. August 29, 1989.
  20. ^ "DAVE wins bid to run run shuttle system". The Daily Texan. June 3, 1991.
  21. ^ a b Freeze, Joshua (March 1999). "Transit Union Takes Bus Company to the End of the Line". UT Watch. Archived from the original on 2008-12-05. Retrieved 2008-08-25.
  22. ^ "Shuttle disputes go round and round". The Daily Texan. February 17, 2004. Retrieved 2008-08-25.[dead link]
  23. ^ "Cap Metro hires new maintenance contractor". The Daily Texan. January 26, 1999.
  24. ^ "Cap Metro Switches UT Shuttle Providers". The Austin Chronicle. March 4, 2005. Archived from the original on 2007-04-10. Retrieved 2008-08-25.
  25. ^ "UT Shuttles". Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  26. ^ Wear, Ben (July 24, 2017). "Dillos roll into the sunset after years of being ignored". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  27. ^ Phillips, Alberta (October 28, 2014). "A few things we learned from the campaign for Austin City Council". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 7 September 2021.

External links[]

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