Public Transportation District Receives $20M in Federal Funds

Update: This story and headline have been corrected to reflect CapMetro’s status as a special district.

A Central Texas transportation district recently was awarded $20 million from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) as part of its Bus and Bus Facilities Grant Program.

The funding will go toward establishing a permanent North Demand Response Operations and Maintenance facility in Austin.

“As CapMetro continues to grow as an agency and as a regional partner, this grant funding will help ensure that we can continue to holistically serve our customers and community,” Interim CapMetro President and CEO Dottie Watkins said in a news release.

The grant will also allow CapMetro to expand other programs to help accommodate system and regional growth and promote community connectivity, the release states, adding that the project will help CapMetro fulfill demand for MetroAccess paratransit and Pickup growth and is integral to ensuring the agency can continue providing these services sustainably and efficiently.

The Demand Response Operations and Maintenance facility will be on Springdale and Cameron Road, replacing a leased facility that is over capacity. In February, CapMetro’s board of directors approved the purchase of 25 acres for this new facility, which will be more cost effective, efficient and support safe operation. This grant will help continue that development.

CapMetro was established by a voter referendum on Jan. 19, 1985. The agency is funded in part by a 1 percent sales tax levied by members of its service area. It has a service area of 542 square miles and had annual boardings of 16.9 million in fiscal year 2021.

In June, Tanya Acevedo, who has held a number of public-sector tech leadership roles, joined CapMetro as its chief information officer and senior vice president.

She will speak at the first Industry Insider — Texas Member Briefing at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 23 at Archer Hotel Austin at Domain Northside.