Hello Friday.
March 29 2024
If you’re tired of driving through congestion on I-35, we’ve got good news for you: $50 million in expanded public transportation is coming to Austin. 💰
This week, Capital Metro’s board approved the funding for making some major additions to Austin’s bus scene in the next five years.
The money would pay for three new high-frequency bus routes, called MetroRapid. Currently, CapMetro’s two MetroRapid routes are 801 + 803, and run north-south.
Here are details on the new routes:
🚍Expo: Starting at the Travis County Exposition Center in East Austin and ending at Republic Square downtown, this route includes stops on Airport Boulevard and near the UT campus.
🚍Pleasant Valley: Beginning near Mueller in East Austin on the north end, this route travels south with stops on East Cesar Chavez Street and East Riverside Drive, and ends at Goodnight Ranch in South Austin.
🚍Gold Line: This route stretches from Austin Community College’s Highland Campus to Republic Square. CapMetro says this line could be converted into a light rail in the future, and extend down toward South Congress.
Other changes in the funding package include:
- 100+ new bus stations
- New Park & Rides
- Extending Route 803 in two directions, from Westgate Transit Center to Oak Hill and to Slaughter Lane
- New electric bus charging stations
- Improvements to existing bus stops
Funding comes from CapMetro’s Capital Improvement Plan. These changes are all part of Project Connect, a long-term plan from the Austin Transit Partnership.
What’s next: Construction is set to begin in December.
CapMetro, The Austin Transit Partnership, and the Austin City Council are set to vote on a joint partnership agreement finalizing these decisions later this week.
Use the buttons below to share this news with your friend who is looking to avoid heavy traffic in Austin.
Thursday
Friday
- Field Guide Festival | Fri., Oct. 29-Sat., Oct. 30 | Times vary | Various locations | $45+ | Meet with local farmers, chefs, and food system enthusiasts at this festival for fresh food.
Saturday
- Tinlicker at The Concourse Project | Sat., Oct. 30 | 10 p.m.-2 a.m. | The Concourse Project | $20+ | Vibe out to the sounds from this electronic music group from the Netherlands. 🎶
- Viva la Vida Fest 2021 | Sat. Oct. 30 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Virtual + Mexic-Arte Museum | $7 | Learn Day of the Dead recipes and watch a parade online or check out this year’s exhibition in person. 🎉
Sunday
- Rogue Invitational at Dell Diamond | Sun, Oct. 31 | Times vary | Dell Diamond | $45 | This CrossFit competition features various events + the inaugural Strongman competition.
We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
Weather
- 78º | Morning showers | 58% chance of rain ☔
Job
- USPS is looking for Austinites to join the team. Open positions include city carrier assistant, rural carrier associate, and assistant rural carrier. Head over to the Postal Service’s job fair today at the USPS Southeast Station (4516 Burleson Rd.) from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. to learn more. 📬 (KVUE)
Civic
- Austin City Council has approved the Living Streets model, a program that would make it safer for play, exercise, and holding events in local neighborhoods. Addressing street safety + traffic concerns, the plan is set to move forward in the next few months. (Community Impact Austin)
Biz
- Austin will get its first “democratized grocery store” —Tàstès. The grocer will be a soil-to-store — meaning the customer’s money will go back to the farmer + food supplier. This hyperlocal model grocery store will be located at 3208 S. Congress Ave. and is set to open in spring 2022. 🛒 (CultureMap Austin)
Eat
- Marufuku Ramen — a Japanese noodle restaurant based in San Francisco — will open its second Lone Star State location right here in Austin. The eatery will be located at 1900 Aldrich St. + is planned to open in 2022. 🍜 (Eater Austin)
DYK
- Did you know just ~1.5 hours away in Fredericksburg there’s a dreamy treehouse Airbnb complete with a shaded tree canopy + hot tub? This hill country home made Condé Nast Traveler’s list of “15 Treehouse Airbnbs for Those Who Want to Sleep Among the Stars.” 🌳 (Condé Nast Traveler)
In case you missed it, Monday officially marked Austin-Bergstrom International Airport’s busiest day ever. We’re talking about 35,298 passengers going through security type of busy.
We think it’s safe to say a lot of people enjoyed the Formula 1 Aramco US Grand Prix over the weekend at Circuit of the Americas. Take a look at these celebrities who visited the Capital City — including Serena Williams + Billy Joel.
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