Similar to the Envision Central Texas plan for regional growth, Capital Metro will be seeking feedback next week over how to plan its own growth over the next 10 years. See press release after the jump:
Shape the future of Capital Metro’s bus service
Second round of ServicePlan2020 recommendations ready for public feedback
• Capital Metro has published updated service recommendations as part of its ongoing planning study ServicePlan2020, and invites public feedback on the
newest concepts in the plan.
• Capital Metro will host five open house events Nov. 16-19, to discuss all aspects of ServicePlan2020 with the community.
NORTHEAST | Monday, Nov. 16, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
University Hills Branch Library,
4721 Loyola Ln.
Bus Routes: 20, 23, 37
NORTH | Tuesday, Nov. 17, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Little Walnut Creek Branch Library
835 W. Rundberg Ln.
Bus Routes: 1L, 1M, 101, 325
DOWNTOWN | Wednesday, Nov. 18, noon – 1:30 p.m.
Capital Metro Transit Store
323 Congress Ave
Bus Routes: All downtown routes
SOUTHWEST | Wednesday, Nov. 18, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
ACC Pinnacle Campus
7748 Highway 290 West
Bus Route: 333
SOUTH | Thursday, Nov. 19, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Pleasant Hill Branch Library
211 E. William Cannon Dr.
Bus Routes: 1L, 1M, 201, 333
• Riders can also register their feedback about the recommendations via a short online survey.
• ServicePlan2020 is a comprehensive analysis of Capital Metro’s bus system that will guide the agency in better allocating its limited resources now, and provide a roadmap for growth of the system over the next 10 years.
• Key themes behind the updated recommendations include increasing frequency within major travel corridors; improving route directness; improving downtown operations; increasing service to employment and retail destinations; and, reducing unproductive service.
• As the nexus of Capital Metro’s bus system, the downtown area warrants special study, and the consultant team for ServicePlan2020 has issued a report titled Addressing Downtown Austin Transit Mobility that recommends
several changes to reduce transfers, better serve employment destinations, and help buses move more efficiently through downtown.
• Capital Metro has contracted with Perteet, Inc., to conduct the comprehensive analysis. Perteet introduced preliminary recommendations to the public in August, after evaluating customer and bus operator feedback; route
performance and existing ridership and commute patterns; and, market research. The updated recommendations reflect additional community input received during the first round of community meetings in August.
• Two citizen advisory committees representative of riders and other transportation stakeholders have also provided valuable direction and feedback.
• The updated service concepts will be further refined following the open house events, and the study team will present final recommendations to the Capital Metro Board in early 2010.
Learn more about ServicePlan2020 at www.capmetro.org/serviceplan2020.
This article appears in November 13 • 2009.