Regarding the zoned fare structure for MetroRail, here is a map showing the boundary between the two zones.
Read more
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Capital MetroRail is coming down the track
KXAN's Kate Weidaw reports on Capital Metro's progress on Capital MetroRail, including new construction that has begun on the Downtown Station.
Regarding the zoned fare structure for MetroRail, here is a map showing the boundary between the two zones.
Read more
Regarding the zoned fare structure for MetroRail, here is a map showing the boundary between the two zones.
Read more
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Loyal riders caught on video!
A video produced by the Austin American-Statesman asks three Capital Metro riders why they ride.
Watch the video
All three of the riders indicate they've seen more people on the bus recently. It's true. This June, people made 200,000 more trips on the bus than last June.
Capital Metro has increased frequency and added service to the busiest routes, and is exploring options for purchasing additional buses that could be in place within the next year. Read more
Watch the video
All three of the riders indicate they've seen more people on the bus recently. It's true. This June, people made 200,000 more trips on the bus than last June.
Capital Metro has increased frequency and added service to the busiest routes, and is exploring options for purchasing additional buses that could be in place within the next year. Read more
Thursday, July 24, 2008
10 Lame Reasons to Delay Mass Transit
Who knew that discussions about mass transit could be so funny? Check out this excerpt from a guest column in the Seattle Times by Mayor and Sound Transit Board chair Greg Nickels:
As Sound Transit prepares to move forward with a proposal for the November ballot, there are those who favor more investments in mass transit, just not this year. We have helpfully compiled a "top 10" list of the reasons to wait:
10) Everything has been said, but not everyone has said it. A two-year delay will enable us to hear from those who are still mustering up the courage to make up their minds.
9) True, the 15-year Sound Transit plan would add light rail, commuter rail and regional buses. If we wait two years, though, it might include hydrogen-powered, personal hovercrafts. That'd be cool.
8) Local media need an infusion of advertising cash from a certain Eastside shopping center developer who wants another two years to tell you that freeways are still the best transportation for the region. No matter what.
7) More debate will give us more information. There's so much more to discuss, it just seems premature to have a vibrant light-rail system after only 40 years of talking about it.
6) There is so much room for new highways, it just makes sense to build new lanes. Interstate 5 through downtown Seattle seems like it is ripe for a little widening. And the Eastside and Montlake are united in wanting a bigger Highway 520, right? Right? Oh, wrong.
5) Mass transit is popular. So popular, you may not have a seat on the bus. But standing all the way home improves your calf muscles and physical stamina. This strength-building exercise works even better in high heels.
4) You can worry more about climate change. Need an extra two years to get your head around species collapse and widespread global drought? Waiting for mass transit will give you time to bone up on the latest news about how our indecision and bad habits are torching the planet. Books on tape are great for the car!
3) By waiting two years, we can do the same project but spend about $1 billion more. With the price of everything going up — steel, concrete, gas — a delay will cost big bucks. But indecision is worth it. Isn't it?
2) Congestion will only get worse. That leaves more time in the car to listen to talk-radio hosts jawbone about the lack of transportation alternatives.
And the No. 1 reason why we should wait for mass transit ...
1) Pumping the car with $70 of gasoline feels more special when there isn't an alternative. Let's face it — gas prices aren't coming down. Why ruin gas-station heartburn by giving people a way out of their cars and into light rail?
Read more
As Sound Transit prepares to move forward with a proposal for the November ballot, there are those who favor more investments in mass transit, just not this year. We have helpfully compiled a "top 10" list of the reasons to wait:
10) Everything has been said, but not everyone has said it. A two-year delay will enable us to hear from those who are still mustering up the courage to make up their minds.
9) True, the 15-year Sound Transit plan would add light rail, commuter rail and regional buses. If we wait two years, though, it might include hydrogen-powered, personal hovercrafts. That'd be cool.
8) Local media need an infusion of advertising cash from a certain Eastside shopping center developer who wants another two years to tell you that freeways are still the best transportation for the region. No matter what.
7) More debate will give us more information. There's so much more to discuss, it just seems premature to have a vibrant light-rail system after only 40 years of talking about it.
6) There is so much room for new highways, it just makes sense to build new lanes. Interstate 5 through downtown Seattle seems like it is ripe for a little widening. And the Eastside and Montlake are united in wanting a bigger Highway 520, right? Right? Oh, wrong.
5) Mass transit is popular. So popular, you may not have a seat on the bus. But standing all the way home improves your calf muscles and physical stamina. This strength-building exercise works even better in high heels.
4) You can worry more about climate change. Need an extra two years to get your head around species collapse and widespread global drought? Waiting for mass transit will give you time to bone up on the latest news about how our indecision and bad habits are torching the planet. Books on tape are great for the car!
3) By waiting two years, we can do the same project but spend about $1 billion more. With the price of everything going up — steel, concrete, gas — a delay will cost big bucks. But indecision is worth it. Isn't it?
2) Congestion will only get worse. That leaves more time in the car to listen to talk-radio hosts jawbone about the lack of transportation alternatives.
And the No. 1 reason why we should wait for mass transit ...
1) Pumping the car with $70 of gasoline feels more special when there isn't an alternative. Let's face it — gas prices aren't coming down. Why ruin gas-station heartburn by giving people a way out of their cars and into light rail?
Read more
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Changes to Our Website
As promised, not every one of my posts will be about the IVR. It wouldn't make for very interesting reading no matter how much you love that technology. But while I am on the topic of apologies, there is one more area that I would like to discuss in terms of where we are and where we would like to be: the Capital Metro Web site. As I write, our Web site is being prepared for a number of changes and enhancements that should make it simpler and more useful for the community (and a lot easier for us to update and keep fresh, too).
The first thing our team did was look at other transit agencies to see what they had done that made sense and what mistakes they had made. This, along with many of the things we have wanted to do for a while but did not have the time or skills to implement, led to a list of things we wanted to build into our next generation Web site. While the brainstorming was easy, the prioritization has not been. We want to vet the list of ideas through the public to see which ones ring true and which ones are not worth pursuing (see below).
We are hoping to get a new look and feel to the page (to freshen it up) and to incorporate features that will take advantage of our new bus tracking system that we are rolling out this fall.
So, tell us. What features would be most valuable to you?
Ideas for new web features:
_____ Much improved Customer Comment Request system (inquiry, trouble ticket, etc.) entry, FAQ, and routing to/from the person that needs to respond.
_____ Ability to put performance metrics on the website.
_____ Ability to have the web visitor rate usefulness of content.
_____ A MyCapMetro page whereby personalized information is accessible based on what I’m interested in, such as: common trips (departure and arrival for common routes – such as to work or work to home), next bus for a few highly used (personally selected) routes – perhaps simply scrolling up to three ‘next departure’ times for certain routes at certain locations based off of GPS data, complaints entered and responses to them, and automatic feeds on topics of personal interest from the Web site, such as STS or Rail, or Board Meetings, etc.
_____ Mobile device button/section on first page, like BART’s, that allows phones and PDAs to download schedules.
_____ Aesthetically pleasing tourist section, like NJ Transit.
_____ Service Alert section at top of home page. Service alerts also listed on schedule pages.
_____ Easy online store.
_____ Language conversion like WMATA.
_____ Community Calendar with trip planner pre-encoded to destination.
_____ Trip Planner: enhanced graphic user interface, drop-down menus, links to interactive maps and service interruptions.
_____ Icons on the front page to distinguish modes (rail, express, local, STS, etc.) clicks through to page with pull down menus of routes and include fare information, etc.
_____ Less “What’s Happening” on the front page and more service information.
_____ Front page feature to click through to detours.
_____ Larger font size (currently 8.5 and gray).
_____ Ability to magnify web pages for those that are visually impaired (see http://www.tafn.org.uk/ for example).
_____ More white space on the pages – simpler, less cluttered design.
_____ Easier, more direct link to interactive maps.
_____ Overall ease in finding what you are seeking – no more than three clicks to any page.
_____ Clarity of pages – easier navigation.
_____ ADA: Bobby approved, 508 and W3C certified.
_____ Live chat with customer service.
_____ Front page link for meetings and events.
_____ Front page feature for project Updates (i.e. All Systems Go).
_____ Improved design on schedules page to reduce the long, undefined columns. Redesigned for easier reading and downloading to mobile devices.
_____ Text messages when my bus is late.
_____ How to ride videos.
_____ “Testing area” for new technologies (like Google Labs).
_____ Forum for dialogue with public.
_____ Orbital ITS (next bus and live tracking of vehicles) online.
_____ Web component for paratransit.
_____ Touchless transit pass or smart card that could be recharged online.
Read more
The first thing our team did was look at other transit agencies to see what they had done that made sense and what mistakes they had made. This, along with many of the things we have wanted to do for a while but did not have the time or skills to implement, led to a list of things we wanted to build into our next generation Web site. While the brainstorming was easy, the prioritization has not been. We want to vet the list of ideas through the public to see which ones ring true and which ones are not worth pursuing (see below).
We are hoping to get a new look and feel to the page (to freshen it up) and to incorporate features that will take advantage of our new bus tracking system that we are rolling out this fall.
So, tell us. What features would be most valuable to you?
Ideas for new web features:
_____ Much improved Customer Comment Request system (inquiry, trouble ticket, etc.) entry, FAQ, and routing to/from the person that needs to respond.
_____ Ability to put performance metrics on the website.
_____ Ability to have the web visitor rate usefulness of content.
_____ A MyCapMetro page whereby personalized information is accessible based on what I’m interested in, such as: common trips (departure and arrival for common routes – such as to work or work to home), next bus for a few highly used (personally selected) routes – perhaps simply scrolling up to three ‘next departure’ times for certain routes at certain locations based off of GPS data, complaints entered and responses to them, and automatic feeds on topics of personal interest from the Web site, such as STS or Rail, or Board Meetings, etc.
_____ Mobile device button/section on first page, like BART’s, that allows phones and PDAs to download schedules.
_____ Aesthetically pleasing tourist section, like NJ Transit.
_____ Service Alert section at top of home page. Service alerts also listed on schedule pages.
_____ Easy online store.
_____ Language conversion like WMATA.
_____ Community Calendar with trip planner pre-encoded to destination.
_____ Trip Planner: enhanced graphic user interface, drop-down menus, links to interactive maps and service interruptions.
_____ Icons on the front page to distinguish modes (rail, express, local, STS, etc.) clicks through to page with pull down menus of routes and include fare information, etc.
_____ Less “What’s Happening” on the front page and more service information.
_____ Front page feature to click through to detours.
_____ Larger font size (currently 8.5 and gray).
_____ Ability to magnify web pages for those that are visually impaired (see http://www.tafn.org.uk/ for example).
_____ More white space on the pages – simpler, less cluttered design.
_____ Easier, more direct link to interactive maps.
_____ Overall ease in finding what you are seeking – no more than three clicks to any page.
_____ Clarity of pages – easier navigation.
_____ ADA: Bobby approved, 508 and W3C certified.
_____ Live chat with customer service.
_____ Front page link for meetings and events.
_____ Front page feature for project Updates (i.e. All Systems Go).
_____ Improved design on schedules page to reduce the long, undefined columns. Redesigned for easier reading and downloading to mobile devices.
_____ Text messages when my bus is late.
_____ How to ride videos.
_____ “Testing area” for new technologies (like Google Labs).
_____ Forum for dialogue with public.
_____ Orbital ITS (next bus and live tracking of vehicles) online.
_____ Web component for paratransit.
_____ Touchless transit pass or smart card that could be recharged online.
Read more
Thursday, July 17, 2008
APD Officers learn to drive a bus
A group of seven Austin police officers have spent this week training with Capital Metro instructors, learning how to drive a bus. Part of the training was spent behind the wheel of Capital Metro's high-tech bus simulator, as shown in this video by KTBC last night.
Once the officers receive their commercial drivers licenses (they're taking the driving exam this morning), they'll be tasked with operating the City's new Breath Alcohol Testing bus, or B.A.T bus, which was donated to APD by Capital Metro.
Capital Metro has an ongoing partnership with APD to prepare officers to operate buses in the event of an emergency. We've helped a total of 21 officers obtain a commercial drivers license since 2000.
All new Capital Metro bus operators who were hired since 2006 (when we purchased the bus simulator), have had an opportunity to train with the high-tech equipment. Read more
Once the officers receive their commercial drivers licenses (they're taking the driving exam this morning), they'll be tasked with operating the City's new Breath Alcohol Testing bus, or B.A.T bus, which was donated to APD by Capital Metro.
Capital Metro has an ongoing partnership with APD to prepare officers to operate buses in the event of an emergency. We've helped a total of 21 officers obtain a commercial drivers license since 2000.
All new Capital Metro bus operators who were hired since 2006 (when we purchased the bus simulator), have had an opportunity to train with the high-tech equipment. Read more
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Bus Schedule Webapp for iPhone
While at the Apple Store yesterday evening to scope out the *new* iPhone-–I’m still chapped that I just bought the *old* iPhone four months ago--I noticed a bus schedule Web site on one of the displayed iPhones. I was excited to learn of this great tool for my iPhone, http://www.me2bus.com, which provides Capital Metro bus schedules by route and stop. You navigate to your desired route and bus stop, and the program will tell you when the next bus is supposed to arrive, along with the next three buses after that.
The tool is not an application to install—it’s a Web site that will work on anyone’s portable device. I just checked it on my friend’s Blackberry and it works great, just without the images you will see when using it on the iPhone. It’s an extremely user friendly schedule book on the go!
Looking to the near future, when Capital Metro buses will have intelligent transportation systems (ITS) onboard, webapps like me2bus will be able to include real-time information about when the next bus will be arriving. Read more
The tool is not an application to install—it’s a Web site that will work on anyone’s portable device. I just checked it on my friend’s Blackberry and it works great, just without the images you will see when using it on the iPhone. It’s an extremely user friendly schedule book on the go!
Looking to the near future, when Capital Metro buses will have intelligent transportation systems (ITS) onboard, webapps like me2bus will be able to include real-time information about when the next bus will be arriving. Read more
MetroRapid Update
You may have not heard much about it lately, but Capital MetroRapid is progressing. We’ve been working hard the past several months on a revised proposal that could earn some federal funding.
At the end of the month, we’ll hold three public meetings to explain the proposal and gain some feedback. Just recently we submitted an initial findings report to the Federal Transit Administration. After community outreach, we plan to submit a formal proposal through the Very Small Starts Program.
Initial service will include two routes: North Lamar/South Congress and Burnet/South Lamar. This is just the first phase in the plan to have as many as 10 routes in the next 20 years.
Click here for more information on MetroRapid. Once the meetings have been set up, we’ll post the details online.
Read more
At the end of the month, we’ll hold three public meetings to explain the proposal and gain some feedback. Just recently we submitted an initial findings report to the Federal Transit Administration. After community outreach, we plan to submit a formal proposal through the Very Small Starts Program.
Initial service will include two routes: North Lamar/South Congress and Burnet/South Lamar. This is just the first phase in the plan to have as many as 10 routes in the next 20 years.
Click here for more information on MetroRapid. Once the meetings have been set up, we’ll post the details online.
Read more
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