Recent Rail delays have not gone unnoticed. Here's what's happening, what's causing the disruptions and what we're doing about it.
Read the full update: https://waypointblog.com/new-weekday-rail-schedule-october-2026/
There are Bus, Rail, Bikeshare and other late-night service options for customers traveling to and from Zilker Park
CapMetro is offering several convenient and reliable transportation options for customers heading to and from Zilker Park for the 2026 Austin City Limits Music Festival. Festivalgoers who take the Bus can also now easily pay their fare using Tap to Pay with a contactless credit, debit card or mobile smart wallet.
CapMetro provides three bus routes to get you close to Zilker Park. Routes 3 and 803 provide service to Barton Springs and North Lamar, where customers can then walk less than a mile to ACL Fest. Route 30 drops customers off on the west side of Zilker Park near MoPac at Spyglass. We encourage everyone to plan their trip using the Transit App, as some routes are detoured due to festival-related road closures.
For those staying out later, CapMetro’s Night Owl buses run until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
Customers coming from Leander, the Domain or other areas near Red Line stations can take CapMetro Rail to Downtown Austin. From there, they can walk about half a mile to Republic Square and catch Routes 3 or 803 to Zilker Park. The agency is providing special Sunday Rail service during both weekends of ACL. The last trains will leave Downtown at 12:30 a.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights during the festival.
Additionally, customers can rent a bike at any CapMetro Bikeshare station to get to Zilker Park. Check the Bikeshare App to find the docking station closest to you. CapMetro is also hosting a Bikeshare valet at 1732 Toomey Rd to ensure customers have a place to dock their bikes near the festival.
For more information or to plan your ride, visit capmetro.org/special-events/acl.
Customers can also call the GO line for extra assistance at 512-474-1200.
The service will return in phases as the agency continues rebuilding charging infrastructure
AUSTIN, Texas – CapMetro Bikeshare will return in phases beginning August 11, 2026, with nearly one-third of the fleet available for riding by August 18. The service was suspended in late May 2026 after a fire at the agency’s operations facility damaged the system’s charging infrastructure.
This limited service will prioritize areas with the highest customer demand, including the University of Texas campus. While all Bikeshare stations will reopen, customers should expect limited bike availability as CapMetro continues rebuilding the charging and battery infrastructure at its operations facility.
As part of the initial return, bikes will be charged exclusively at electrified Bikeshare stations throughout the system. Customers can dock bikes at any station, and the CapMetro Bikeshare team will relocate bikes from non-electrified stations to charging stations, as needed. Due to this temporary process, bike availability may vary by station. Customers are encouraged to check the CapMetro Bikeshare app to see real-time availability before heading to a station.
Additionally, during the temporary Bikeshare suspension, CapMetro and its partners at the City of Austin continued advancing the Bikeshare Expansion Plan by adding new electrified stations, including two at the University of Texas that are expected to be ready when service resumes on August 11. These additions expand the networks' charging capacity, provide greater operational flexibility, and support the phased return of Bikeshareservice.
“Our partnership with the City of Austin has been crucial in bringing Bikeshare back,” said Art Jackson, CapMetro’s VP of Demand Response. “Together, we’ve used this time to strengthen our system, rebuild thoughtfully and expand our network of electrified stations, allowing us to safely restore service while building a more resilient Bikeshare program for the future.”
CapMetro will begin placing bikes into the system to restart service on August 11, 2026, with approximately one-third of the bike fleet available by August 18. The agency expects to acquire the necessary parts and materials and restore full charging capabilities at its Bikeshare operations facility by the end of 2026, allowing the system to return to full service.
Annual passholders will automatically receive additional time on the memberships to account for the service suspension. Customers who would prefer a prorated refund may contact bikeshare@capmetro.org.
Customers can find bike availability, station locations, and trip information in the CapMetro Bikeshare app.
CapMetro is seeking public feedback on proposed fare increases that would take place January 10, 2027 and January 2029. This would be the first system-wide fare adjustment across all services since 2015.
Learn more and share your feedback at the link: https://waypointblog.com/capmetro-is-proposing-its-first-fare-increase-in-more-than-a-decade-heres-why/
Last year, we introduced you to new wayfinding technology designed to help riders who are blind or have low vision navigate transit more independently. Now, those accessibility initiatives have expanded even more.
From smarter bus stop navigation and onboard audio guidance to live visual interpreting services, CapMetro is continuing to test and expand technology aimed at making public transportation easier and accessible for customers across Central Texas.
And with several new upgrades, customers are beginning to see these tools move beyond pilot concepts and into more real-world transit experiences.
“This work is really about giving people more confidence and independence while navigating public transit,” said Martin Kareithi, CapMetro’s Systemwide Accessibility Director. “We’re continuing to test new tools, listen to customer feedback and explore how technology can create a more accessible experience across the entire system.”
In the last couple of years, you may have seen colorful, high-contrast codes at bus stops along Routes 1, 801, and 300 near key destinations like UT West Mall, Crestview, and ACC Eastview. This is through a partnership with Navilens, and now, those codes have expanded along more routes and additional stops near the University of Texas, South Congress Transit Center and Tech Ridge Park & Ride, and even on buses.
Earlier this spring, CapMetro deployed Navilens Codes on the exterior and interior of 15 buses, allowing riders to access audio route and destination information while boarding and riding the vehicle.
What exactly does Navilens do? The technology allows riders to scan codes using the free Navilens App and their smartphone camera and receive audio information such as:
Unlike traditional QR codes, NaviLens codes can be detected from much farther away and without requiring riders to precisely line up their camera, which makes them especially useful for those who are blind or have low vision.
CapMetro is also testing new features that provide guided audio instructions, directional tones and haptic feedback to help riders navigate between transit bays and move more confidently through transit centers.
“We’re looking at how these technologies can support the entire customer journey, from locating the stop to boarding the correct bus and navigating transfers,” Kareithi said. “That’s what makes this next phase so exciting.”
Alongside NaviLens, CapMetro continues to pilot Waymap, another wayfinding platform focused on highly detailed turn-by-turn navigation through an app on your phone.
“One of the most valuable parts of these pilots is that we’re testing different types of technology at the same time,” Kareithi said. “Every customer’s needs are different, and these projects help us better understand what solutions can make the biggest impact.”
Unlike many navigation apps that rely heavily on GPS, Waymap uses sensor-based positioning technology to provide more precise guidance around transit infrastructure and dense urban areas.
The technology is currently being tested at the same pilot locations as NaviLens, including areas near the University of Texas, Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center, and Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Waymap provides step-by-step audio instructions designed to help riders locate stops, navigate transit facilities, and travel more independently through unfamiliar environments.
The latest updates to the app also introduced integrated trip-planning features, allowing riders to plan trips and receive navigation guidance within a single experience.
And another major update is on the way. This spring, Waymap is expected to relaunch with new tools that are expected to bring improved usability, enhanced visual contrast, expanded screen reader support and simplified navigation features.
CapMetro has also launched a new pilot with Aira, a live visual interpreting service that connects riders with trained remote agents through a smartphone app. Right now, only a select few people are testing it out, but here’s how it works.
Using a phone camera, riders can connect with a live agent who can assist with:
While many accessibility technologies rely on automation, Aira introduces a human layer of support that can help riders navigate unexpected situations or unfamiliar environments more confidently.
The pilot, which will run through September 30, 2026, will help CapMetro evaluate how live navigation assistance could complement the agency’s other accessibility technology initiatives.
Helping Shape the Future of Accessibility at CapMetro
As these initiatives continue to grow, CapMetro is encouraging riders and members of the accessibility community to share feedback and experiences using the technologies. It will help shape future accessibility improvements and determine how these tools may continue evolving across the transit system.
“The most important feedback comes from the people actually using these tools every day,” Kareithi said. “Their experiences are helping guide what accessibility innovation looks like at CapMetro moving forward.”
If you’re using these technologies while riding CapMetro, you can share your feedback and help shape the future of accessible transit by visiting this webpage.
Birdie's is a James Beard Award Winner, has a Michelin nod and a line out the door most nights.
There's a reason for all of it...and it starts way closer to home than you’d think.
🚌 Birdie's is served by routes 2, 5, 350, 485, 800 and the Red Line.
Episode 1 of Chefs in Transit is out now. 🎬 Click the link to watch the full episode!
🔗 https://waypointblog.com/chefs-in-transit-episode-1-train-of-thought/
Starting June 1, CapMetro will return to front door boarding on local bus service.
Rear door boarding was introduced during the pandemic, but this change will help:
• Improve safety for operators and customers
• Support fare compliance
• Create a more consistent boarding experience across the system
Customers will continue exiting through the rear doors, and accessibility accommodations will remain available as needed.
More details on the change and what to expect can be found on the Waypoint blog: https://waypointblog.com/capmetro-is-ending-rear-door-boarding-heres-why/
Goodnight Ranch and Expo Center Park & Rides will open on June 7, 2026
Austin, TX — CapMetro is making it easier than ever to move across Central Texas with the opening of two brand-new Park and Rides, Goodnight Ranch and Expo Center, alongside the full launch of Rapid 800 and 837 on June 7, 2026.
Since the initial introduction of Rapid 800 and 837 in February 2025, CapMetro crews have worked to install updated stations with enhanced amenities along the routes, as well as complete the Park & Ride facilities equipped with end-of-line charging to support the agency’s electric bus vehicles and infrastructure. When the service launches with the June Service Change, both lines will operate on their full 10-minute frequency during peak hours, providing faster connections across our community.
“June’s service launch represents a major step forward in how Central Texas moves,” said Dottie Watkins, CapMetro’s President and CEO. “With our full frequency of Rapid service, along with the opening of these two new Park & Rides, we’re creating a more convenient and sustainable way for people to travel throughout the region.”
The new Goodnight Ranch and Expo Center Park & Rides are designed to make public transportation more accessible and convenient for customers who want a reliable option to park once and ride across the city.
Goodnight Ranch Park & Ride
Located in Southeast Austin at the end of Rapid 837 Pleasant Valley, this new Park & Ride includes:
As part of the June Service Change, CapMetro has realigned Route 318 and Route 333 will also end at Goodnight Ranch.
Expo Center Park & Ride
As part of the June Service Change, Routes 18, 233, and Route 337 will also serve Expo Center Park & Ride.
Together, the two new facilities create new access points for customers traveling throughout the Rapid network and other routes, while also supporting CapMetro’s continued investment in sustainable transit infrastructure.
For additional assets of the Park & Rides and new Rapid stations, please visit this link.
To learn more about the June Service Change, go to www.capmetro.org/servicechange/june-2026-service-changes.
With nearly 34,000 average monthly Bikeshare riders, demand for this service continues to grow
Austin, TX — CapMetro today announced the opening of a new Bikeshare station on the campus of St. Edward’s University, marking the first station located at the university and one of the largest in the entire Bikeshare system.
“Expanding our Bikeshare network is a key part of how we’re building a more connected and sustainable transportation system for our community,” said Art Jackson, CapMetro VP of Demand Response and Innovative Mobility. “By adding stations in high-demand areas like St. Edward’s University, we’re making it easier for more people to choose active, affordable transportation options.”
“The addition of a Bikeshare station on our campus is an exciting step forward in expanding accessible, sustainable transportation options for our students, faculty and staff on the Hilltop,” said Lisa Kirkpatrick, Vice President for Student Affairs and Administration at St. Edward's University. “This partnership with CapMetro is an investment in student mobility and affordability, and it supports our commitment to environmental stewardship while helping Hilltoppers stay connected to the broader Austin community.”
The new station, located in the parking lot between Woodward Street and Moody Drive is part of CapMetro’s broader expansion strategy for the micromobility transit option, which focuses on improving access, connectivity, and convenience for riders across Austin.
With nearly 34,000 average monthly Bikeshare riders this year, demand for this service continues to grow across the region. The Bikeshare Expansion Plan is working to grow a more robust, equitable, and sustainable network that better connects people to transit, jobs, and key destinations.
As part of this effort, CapMetro plans to install 25 Electrified Bikeshare Stations (EBS) by the end of 2026. These stations will feature in-dock charging capabilities for e-bike batteries, making it easier for customers to access and use electric bikes throughout the system.
The expansion plan also prioritizes:
The new St. Edward’s station reflects these priorities by increasing access in South Austin and strengthening connections to nearby transit options and campus destinations.
Photos and video of the station’s installation are available here.
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ABOUT CAPMETRO
CapMetro is Austin's regional public transportation provider. We've been around since 1985 and work every day to give residents, commuters and visitors the best possible transit options available to match their busy everyday lives. Created in accordance with Chapter 451 of the Texas Transportation Code, CapMetro was established by a voter referendum on Jan. 19, 1985 and now has more than 31 million boardings each year. For more information, visitcapmetro.org.
