Capital Metro Is Just Trying To Apply Its Resources Wisely

Dear Editor,
    I appreciate the comments from reader Dana Perrotti regarding Capital Metro's MetroRail service [“Postmarks,” Aug. 26]. She's right: Public transportation, including MetroRail, is a great option to connect people to jobs, especially when gas prices are so high.
    Since we expanded the schedules in January, MetroRail ridership has more than doubled, and trains are frequently running with standing room only during rush hour. But even though so many more passengers are riding MetroRail to and from the Downtown Station, ridership on the dedicated rail connector buses did not increase. In fact, those routes were among the least used in our entire system. It made sense to discontinue them and use those resources on other routes where we can serve the community more effectively and efficiently.
    Fortunately, for those few passengers who did rely on the Downtown connector bus routes, there are many alternatives: Several regular bus routes stop near the Downtown Station and serve the same destinations as the connector routes, many customers are walking or biking to their final destinations (yes, even in this record-breaking heat!), and the city of Austin added Car2Go car-sharing spaces near the station. Capital Metro staff rode the connector buses prior to their elimination to talk to riders about all of the options available, and we’ll continue to look for other innovative last-mile solutions.
    If you haven't found the right alternative, we're happy to assist with trip planning so you can continue to ride the train and be on time to work.