Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Amount Appropriated?

$4.2M

FFID tracks stages 1–2 — stages 3–5 vary by agency, assistance type, and earmark structure.

Project Description

Capital Metro is a public transit agency accountable for providing mass transit service within the City of Austin and the surrounding communities of Leander, Lago Vista, Jonestown, Manor, San Leanna, and Point Venture, as well as the unincorporated area of Travis County within Commissioner Precinct 2 and the Anderson Mill area of Williamson County. Capital Metro services include bus, ride-share programs, special event services, and special transit services for the mobility impaired. Capital Metro has made a pledge to transition their fleet to zero emissions by 2035. \n\nAs a step forward to meet this commitment, Capital Metro has already purchased 12 battery electric buses and plans to purchase over 200 more electric buses over the next few years. Additionally, the agency has begun to make the charging infrastructure modifications to support this new fleet. The shift to a zero-emission fleet will save around 22,644 tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year \u2013 equivalent to taking 4,371 cars off the road. The shift to electric vehicles will also help Capital Metro\u2019s South Operations bus yard be a cleaner, quieter, better neighbor. The bus yard sits in a disadvantaged East Austin neighborhood and houses the largest concentration of Capital Metro administrative staff. This project will directly reduce emissions and improve air quality for our neighbors and employees. On November 3, 2020, voters in the City of Austin overwhelmingly approved dedicating 8.75 cents of the operations and maintenance portion of the tax rate for Project Connect, a high-capacity, regional, public transit system. One of the main tenets of Project Connect is its plan for a zero emissions fleet. This Community Project Funding request will help further the voter-approved plan to supply sustainable and clean high-capacity bus and rail lines integrated with frequent, reliable local bus service.