Bigger, Faster Buses

Capital Metro announced last week that it will receive $24.2 million in federal funds for its planned Bus Rapid Transit service. The grant comes from the Federal Transit Administration's Small Starts program, which helps with capital costs for mass transit programs. Bus Rapid Transit is a catchall phrase for several types of enhanced bus service. In the case of the new MetroRapid service, it will include bus lines along busy corridors that will have limited stops and signal-changing technology that should allow them to move faster than regular buses. The buses are also larger and capable of carrying many more passengers. One route, scheduled to open in 2013, will run along North Lamar and South Congress; the other will travel Burnet Road and South Lamar. Cap Metro received another $13.4 million in fed money last year for the project. In total, MetroRapid is expected to cost $47.6 million. Cap Metro will hold a webinar on MetroRapid at noon on July 12; see more info at www.capmetro.org.