Llegando Mas Alto

On By Capital MetroIn Reaching HigherLeave a comment

Respondemos con CARE

La pandemia puso a prueba a Capital Metro y sacó lo mejor de nosotros. Adaptamos los niveles de servicio a las nuevas demandas para garantizar que las personas se sientan cómodas y seguras al viajar. Si bien la cantidad pasajeros se redujo hasta un 60%, ofrecimos casi 5 millones de viajes que permitieron que las personas lleguen a sus trabajos esenciales.

Nuestra prioridad fue garantizar la seguridad y el bienestar de nuestro personal y de nuestros clientes. Para ello, distribuimos más de 215 000 mascarillas, 65 000 guantes y cientos de galones de desinfectante para manos (¡tanto que ni siquiera podemos contarlo!).

Nuestro personal de oficina respondió a la nueva dinámica dando un paso adelante y colaborando. Mediante nuestro programa All Hands, el personal dedicó 13 146 horas a la limpieza de vehículos al mediodía, a la entrega de suministros de equipos de protección, a la asistencia con el control de temperatura y la instalación de carteles sobre el uso de mascarillas y el distanciamiento social.

Nos preocupamos por la comunidad

El impacto de la pandemia fue mayor en los más vulnerables de nuestra comunidad. Desde marzo, los conductores y los voluntarios del personal de CapMetro dedicaron más de 10 000 horas de servicio para repartir más de 600 000 comidas a nuestros vecinos más necesitados. Este programa es el resultado de nuestras sólidas alianzas con el Central Texas Food Bank, HEB, Good Apple y ATX Farmshare.

Como muchos de nosotros nos vimos obligados a trabajar y estudiar desde casa, el acceso a una infraestructura tecnológica sólida ha sido más importante que nunca. Para brindar un servicio de Internet confiable, utilizamos vehículos de MetroAccess en 10 comunidades de bajos ingresos para brindar wifi gratuito durante toda la primavera y todo el verano.

Vuelta al servicio

Con los cambios de servicios de agosto y a medida que CapMetro comenzó a reestablecer más servicios, tomamos todas las medidas para ofrecer una experiencia de transporte segura y positiva. Lo hicimos para lo siguiente:

  • Crear lugares seguros para el personal y los clientes.
  • Aplicar nuestros recursos de forma razonable y equitativa.
  • Recurrir a los datos para tomar decisiones.
  • Evaluar los resultados y adaptarnos.

Obtenga más información en CapMetro.org/COVID19.

Futuro eléctrico

Nuestra transformación a una flota completamente eléctrica comenzó a principios de este año con los primeros dos autobuses eléctricos en las calles del centro de Texas. Para fin de año, contaremos con 12 de ellos listos para usarse, incluidos los primeros dos autobuses eléctricos de 60 pies (los autobuses largos y articulados que ve en nuestras líneas de MetroRapid) en Texas.
También hemos hecho un gran progreso a la hora de convertir una parte de nuestras instalaciones al norte de Austin en un predio para autobuses eléctricos con espacio para 180.

Nuestros autobuses eléctricos han reducido las emisiones de CO2 en 17,5 toneladas y las emisiones de N2O en 39,9 libras. Eso equivale al carbono capturado por casi 30 acres de bosques en un año.

Project Connect: Un nuevo plan de tránsito para Austin y el centro de Texas

Después de años de planificación y de participación de la comunidad, la inversión inicial de Project Connect se someterá a votación en noviembre. Un proceso en equipo entre la junta de Capital Metro y el Concejo de la Ciudad de Austin dio como resultado una inversión inicial en Project Connect que expandiría la capacidad del tránsito y ofrecería más opciones para conectar a las personas, los vecindarios y los empleadores.

Puede enterarse sobre Project Connect en ProjectConnect.com.

Reaching Higher

On By Capital MetroIn Reaching HigherLeave a comment

Responding with CARE

The pandemic has tested Capital Metro and brought out our best. We adjusted service levels to match the new demand and to make sure people could feel comfortable and safe while riding. Though ridership dropped by as much as 60%, we’ve provided nearly 5 million trips that allowed people to get to their essential jobs.

Our priority has been to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our staff and our customers. To that end, we have distributed more than 215,000 masks; 65,000 gloves and hundreds of gallons of hand sanitizer (so much that we literally can’t count how much!).

Our office staff responded to the new dynamic by stepping up and pitching in. Through our All Hands program, staff has logged 13,146 hours of midday vehicle cleaning, protective equipment supply runs, temperature scan assistance and installation of mask and social distancing signage.

Caring for the Community

The pandemic’s impact has hit hardest the most vulnerable in our community. Since March, CapMetro operators and staff volunteers put in more than 10,000 hours of service to deliver more than 600,000 meals to our neighbors in need. This program is the result of our strong partnerships with the Central Texas Food Bank, HEB, Good Apple and ATX Farmshare.

As so many of us have been forced to work and study from home, access to strong technology infrastructure has never been so important. To bring connections to reliable internet service, we deployed MetroAccess vehicles to 10 low-income communities to provide free Wi-Fi throughout the spring and summer.

Return to Service

As CapMetro began to return more service to the streets with our August service changes, we took every measure to provide a safe and positive transit experience. The way we’ve done so is to:

  • Create safe places for staff and customers.
  • Apply our resources wisely and equitably.
  • Rely on data for decision-making.
  • Evaluate our results and adapt.

Learn more at CapMetro.org/COVID19.

Electric Future

Our conversion to an all-electric fleet got started earlier this year with the first two electric buses on the streets of Central Texas. By the end of the year, we’ll have 12 of them ready to go, including the first two 60-foot electric buses (the long, bendy buses you see on our MetroRapid lines) in Texas.

We have also made great progress converting a portion of our facility in North Austin into an electric bus yard with space for 180 buses.

Our electric buses have reduced CO2 emissions by 17.5 tons and N2O emissions by 39.9 pounds That’s equal to the carbon captured by nearly 30 acres of forests in a year!

Project Connect: A new transit plan for Austin and Central Texas

After years of planning and community engagement, Project Connect’s Initial Investment has been placed on the November ballot. A collaborative process between the Capital Metro board and the Austin City Council resulted in a proposed Initial Investment in Project Connect that would expand transit capacity and offer more options to link people, neighborhoods and employers.

You can follow along with Project Connect at ProjectConnect.com

All Aboard Any of the Doors

On By Capital MetroIn Capital Metro newsLeave a comment

CapMetro is launching a new all-door boarding pilot that’s intended to speed up your trips and let our riders take advantage of contactless payment options.

Customers using the CapMetro App can board their bus through the rear door and scan their digital pass with new onboard validators.

The pilot starts Wednesday, September 30 and will be active on Route 20 and Route 300 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

We’ve had all-door boarding on our two MetroRapid routes since that service launched in 2014. But we have now begun to install the onboard validators on our MetroBus vehicles and will roll out the availability of all-door boarding moving forward.

The goal is to reduce wait times at each stop as customers board the bus and pay their fares or show their digital passes to the operator.

Introducing MetroBike, Austin Bike Rental Powered by CapMetro

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At CapMetro, we’re committed to getting you where you need to go, and sometimes a bus or train just can’t take you all the way. That’s why we’re so excited to introduce MetroBike! In a brand new partnership with Austin Transportation Department and Bike Share of Austin, Austin BCycle (the Austin bike rental service you already know and love) is transforming to become a new member of our family of transportation services.

Why bike?

Bikes aren’t just an eco-friendly transit alternative, but serve as a great solution for the parts of your trip that fall between bus or train rides. Just visiting? We highly recommend seeing all of Austin’s beauty by bike, from street art to natural destinations like Lady Bird Lake.

How to book MetroBike

To ride MetroBike, you will need to download both the CapMetro App and the BCycle App. The two apps offer different pass options to help you select the best ride frequency for your needs. Keep in mind that regardless of your pass type, all MetroBikes must be returned to a bike station dock after 60 minutes to avoid additional fees. Once you’ve checked your bike in, feel free to check it back out using the app and continue on your adventure!

Learn more about booking a MetroBike here.

More ways to ride

Head to your CapMetro App to purchase one-day or 31-day passes, which can be bundled with CapMetro bus or rail passes to help you navigate each phase of your trip. Use the BCycle App to pay-as-you-ride or purchase a membership for a day, weekend, month or year.

What’s next for MetroBike?

This partnership is just the beginning and we already have system improvements on the way. Not only will we be expanding the fleet and number of stations, but we plan to fully electrify the MetroBike fleet. With new stations, we aim to provide access to communities beyond the downtown core.

Where can I find more info about MetroBike?

Head over to our website for details about riding MetroBike along with more information about the partnership with BCycle, Austin Transportation Department and Bike Share of Austin.

CapMetro Joins Other Transit Agencies to Commit to Safe Return to Service

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The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is the national trade association for transit agencies. The group coordinates activities among a range of transit providers, offers education opportunities and provides resources on best practices.

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, APTA has surveyed transit users asking what they’re looking for from providers. In response, the association has asked transit agencies and users to support a set of four commitments each.

These commitments show riders what we are doing to ensure their safety and it asks them to play their parts, as well.

For Our Agency:                                                         For Our Customers:

Follow policies and practices based on official guidance from public health experts and agencies.Help riders of diverse ages, needs and abilities to feel safe by following official guidance from public health experts and agencies, and transit agency rules.
Keep transit vehicles clean, disinfected and maintained daily using EPA-approved disinfectants and accepted industry practices.Ask riders to wear face coverings, use hand sanitizer or disinfecting wipes, and minimize touching common surfaces wherever possible.
Communicate timely information about changes in service, and high-density routes and vehicles.Help riders practice physical distancing with other passengers and operators, and make informed choices based on timely information.
Require transit personnel to use face coverings and PPE, and to take leave at the sign of illness or possible exposure to the coronavirus.Request that passengers assess their own health before using transit and to avoid transit if ill or possibly exposed to the coronavirus.

“From the start, the Capital Metro family, using appropriate guidelines, has been laser focused on ways to protect our employees, service providers, customers and communities from the transmission and spread of COVID-19,” says CapMetro VP of Risk and Safety Gardner Tabon. “Our pledge to this international effort further demonstrates Capital Metro’s commitment to continue to keep transit a safe and practicable option.”

To learn more about CapMetro’s services, see our Return with CARE page.

Share Your Feedback on the Capital Metro 2021 Budget Proposal

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If you’ve been thinking, “I wonder what CapMetro is planning to do with their budget next year,” now is your chance to find out! It’s time to review Capital Metro’s Proposed Fiscal Year 2021 Budget and we invite you to join us. Financial transparency has never been more important and, seeing as we operate using your tax dollars, we want your insight before we solidify our plans for the coming year.

Due to COVID-19, this year’s proposal discussion will take place virtually. That’s right, you can hear all about our 2021 financial plans from the comfort of your own home! Bring your questions and feedback on Wednesday, August 26 at 3 p.m. as our Director of Budget & Financial Planning provides a walk-through of the proposed Fiscal Year 2021 Budget. Register to join the meeting here and we look forward to hearing from you!

***UPDATE 8/26 at 4:30***

Here’s a Facebook Live recording of the proposed budget presentation.

Cap-tivities with Gracklynne!

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Here we are with the latest edition of Cap-Tivities. And this time, Gracklynne graces our cover! (Doesn’t she look great?)

Open it up and you’ll see:

  • Word searches
  • Mazes
  • Capy playing dress up
  • A new tattooed friend!
  • Armie Dillo gettin a bit zen!!
  • And much more!!!

We hope you enjoy it and keep busy without going stir crazy. Let us know when you’re done with your completed puzzles and colored masterpieces by tagging @CapMetroATX in your social posts and using the hashtag #captivities.

Thanks! Stay safe, wear a mask and have fun!

Cap-Tivities Vol. 3 Download

Facebook = Capital Metro

Twitter = @CapMetroATX

Instagram = @CapMetroATX

CapMetro and the Pandemic: July Dashboard

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Capital Metro has responded to the coronavirus pandemic with care and dedication to our community.

In the past five months, we’ve provided nearly six million essential trips, delivered more than 550,000 meals to those in need and provided Wi-Fi service in 10 different locations throughout the area.

Check out our July COVID-response Dashboard to see all that we’ve done since mid-March.

Be Patient and Stay Safe: Vehicle and Pedestrian Rail Safety 

On By Capital MetroIn MetroRail, Rail Safety, safetyLeave a comment

Did you know that, according to the National Highway Traffic Administration, a person or vehicle is struck by a train at a highway rail grade crossing every four hours? Trains can’t stop quickly. A freight train that is traveling 55 miles per hour can take more than a mile to stop, even if an emergency application of the brakes is applied.

 

In 2019, Texas ranked as the state with the most collisions in the U.S. with a total of 251 highway-rail grade crossing collisions. As a result, 31 people lost their lives and 123 were injured. Never try to beat a train! Follow these tips to stay safe and help us reduce the number of incidents at rail crossings:

  • Stop if you see flashing red lights
  • Only cross at a highway-rail grade crossing
  • Only cross if gate arms are up, lights have stopped flashing and bells have stopped ringing

In 2019, the state of Texas also ranked as the state with the second highest pedestrian rail trespassing casualties with a total of 100, out of which 44 lost their lives and 56 resulted in  injuries. If you are walking near a train, remember:

  • Only cross at a designated public crossing. Crossing at any other place is trespassing, illegal and dangerous
  • Never walk around or behind lowered gates at a crossing
  • Only cross if gate arms are up, lights have stopped flashing and bells have stopped ringing
  • Look both ways before crossing tracks

Don’t become part of the statistics. Follow these tips and help us reduce the number of highway-rail grade crossing collisions and trespassing casualties. Remember, be patient and stay safe!