That timeline has left opponents of CapMetro membership doubtful that Leander's service levels or ridership will see big improvements. Leander can't hold a similar election on CapMetro membership for at least five years, the city and CapMetro said. "CapMetro should have heard the calls for more equitable services, transportation for our community's disabled and transparency in the costs of services provided to our residents," DeLisle said in a statement Monday. If Capital Metro really wants to earn the support of more Leander residents, the agency should expand service to more areas of the city, Leander Mayor Christine DeLisle said. The work could include things like sidewalks, road resurfacing, lighting, intersection improvements - as long as they benefit transit customers. With both funds, Leander must identify projects and submit them to CapMetro for approval. This year, the amount is calculated to be just under $2 million. Leander can also start receiving sales tax rebates over what it costs CapMetro to provide transit services. The city is eligible for $7.4 million from a one-time infrastructure fund created by the CapMetro board. Leander residents can also expect millions in infrastructure funding to start flowing in the coming months. The double track project is slated to be completed this fall, but the plan for increased frequency of service is further out, more of a "medium- to long-range plan," Sargent said. "We're getting closer and closer to pulling down our frequencies so we can really be relied on the same way a good 15-, 20-minute bus service could," Sargent said. The double track project would allow trains to run more frequently to and from Leander. On days with soccer games, boardings at Leander's MetroRail station can be double or more the average weekday ridership.Ĭapital Metro is also working to add a second set of train tracks along the Red Line between Leander and Lakeline. So few people are taking the commuter bus from Leander that CapMetro suspended one of two routes in January.īut CapMetro hopes rail projects in the works will make the train more appealing to Leanderites.Ī pair of new stations will allow easier to access to the Domain and Austin's FC stadium. Weekday boardings averaged 31 through February, about a 10th the ridership just before the pandemic. Still, ridership is more than double what it was a year earlier. Weekday MetroRail boardings this year averaged 145 through February, about half pre-pandemic levels. That's about triple the number from a year earlier.Ĭommuter rail and commuter bus ridership, on the other hand, have not recovered since many Leanderites were offered the flexibility to work from home because of COVID-19. Pickup, which lets people order a minibus in about 15 minutes with an app or phone call, had 1,861 riders in Leander's service zone in February, according to data provided by CapMetro. Transit ridership in Leander remains stubbornly below pre-pandemic levels with one big exception: the on-demand transit service Pickup. "Just going out there and very honestly saying, 'Here's what we do. "I think providing good service day in and day out, but also just making sure that we state our case," Sargent said. "We still need to win them over," CapMetro's Sam Sargent said of Leanderites who wanted to end the 37-year partnership. More than 2 out of 5 voters opposed the arrangement. Some 59% of voters supported keeping Capital Metro service and the accompanying sales tax. The 1% sales tax generated almost $10 million last year, and revenue is on track to grow by 28% this year. Proposition A asked Leander voters whether to cancel transit service and stop paying the tax to CapMetro. Now that Capital Metro service in Leander is secure for at least five years following Saturday's election, the regional transit agency wants to get opponents on board with spending a 1% sales tax on public transit.
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