Cap Metro
Austin, Texas Public Transit System

Blue 'Dillo bus sign. Photo/omniNate

Cap Metro is essential to Austin transportation. If you live downtown or in the surrounding neighborhoods you probably use Capital Metro on a regular basis. It's low cost, safe and dependable transportation. Yes, the buses can get full and yes, it is a bus.

Capital Metro is a bargain when you compare it to driving. No gas or parking cost. No insane traffic to feed your road rage. When Cap Metro says, “Dump the pump!” they're telling you that you save serious coin by using a bus instead of your car… and they're right!

Their web site is massive and comprehensive. Not complex or confusing, but big. You have to sort out a lot of information to find out what you should be looking for.

I'll attempt to simplify some of the information. There are different kinds of routes, areas served, fares, several ways to buy tickets, bus riding tips and hints, plus recent updates and changes.

I recommend visiting Cap Metro's web site if you plan on using bus service. This is necessary to select your best route and then download route schedules and a map for the route you select.

My Austin travel guide would not be complete without a complete review of Cap Metro. However, it makes no sense to replicate their web site here. My recommendation is - read this page to familiarize yourself with Capital Metro definitions, route explanations and more. When you visit their site you should save time by being informed about the important stuff so you don't have to play the needle in the haystack game.

Cap Metro Service Areas

Service areas are Austin, Texas and surrounding suburbs and neighborhoods: Highland Lakes, Jonestown, Lago Vista, Leander, Manor, San Leanna, Anderson Mill area of Williamson County, Precinct 2 of Travis County

Cap Metro Bus Routes

Bus routes, maps and schedules can be downloaded at CapMetro.org. Here's a brief description of the routes offered in and around Austin.

Local Service Routes – Regular service routes with frequent stops. What they call the “getting around town service.” Not great for a long ride, but right on the money for a short ride to a specific destination.

Limited & Flyer Routes – Both routes are faster than the local service because of less frequent stops. The limited picks up at departure locations like Parke & Ride and takes you to a specific destination. The Flyer routes are the same except they offer direct tours from one part of Austin to another.

Feeder Routes – Neighborhood bus stops and takes riders to Cap Metro transit center or Park & Ride lots. Take a bus to get to your bus.

Crosstown Bus Routes – Does not go downtown. Multiple stop service route from one section of Austin to another. This bus can frequently be late due to the traffic at any given time. Almost as slow as the local service routes bus.

Express – Few stops, fast routes, straight shot from Park & Ride locations to downtown. Best bet for fast service.

UT Shuttle Service – UT Shuttle is based around the UT campus. The shuttle will take you to and from the UT area to destinations downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. Be sure and check the web site for complete UT Shuttle routes, schedules and maps. Unlike other route services, the UT Shuttle schedule changes frequently due to weekday, weekend and Sunday service, late evening combined service, registration service and more.

'Dillo & Special Service

Special service routes take you from a parking location to an event location. Austin City Limits Festival, ROT Rally, are a couple of examples.

The 'Dillo is the pride and joy of Austin commuters. Until recently the service was FREE. Now you pay a mortgage breaking 50¢ for a ride.

The 'Dillo combines old trolley cars and buses that operate between the downtown attractions and hot spots. Every visitor who wants to spend a day downtown, but doesn't want to spend a fortune on Austin taxi service should consider this. Why go through the hassle and expense of hailing a cab or worse, having to find and pay for parking downtown?

Makes your downtown Austin vacations and sight seeing fun easy and as cheap as it gets. Circular routes that go all over downtown, great for a low cost tour of the city or a real cheap way to get from Palmer Auditorium to the State Capitol.

Understanding the routes only requires you grasp the 'Dillo color coded route descriptions and route map which you can get here (opens in a new window).

Blue 'Dillo – Every 5 minutes, circulates downtown. Destinations include; Austin Convention Center, Warehouse Entertainment District, State Office Complex, Bob Bullock State History Museum.

Red 'Dillo Service – Travels through downtown from Austin High Park & Ride. Destinations include; Austin High Park & Ride, Texas State Capitol, Travis County Courthouse, ACC Rio Grande, University of Texas.

Gold 'Dillo – Almost identical to the Red 'Dillo route, difference being the Red 'Dillo uses Cesar Chavez to access Congress Ave. While the Gold 'Dillo uses Barton Springs Road. Basically with the same destinations as the Red service. Gold departs from Toomey Park & Ride located n Toomey west of Jessie.

Silver 'Dillo – East, west circular route from Deep Eddy pool in west Austin to Pleasant Valley in east Austin. Big time Sixth and Fifth Street tour. Destinations include; Deep Eddy Pool, Sixth and Lamar shopping district, downtown, French Legation Museum, Cap Metro Headquarters.

Orange 'Dillo – North, south, Congress Ave. and many don't miss Austin attractions. Destinations include; SoCo shopping district, downtown, Travis County courthouse, Bob Bullock Museum, University of Texas, LBJ Library & Museum, Manor Road restaurants (11 am to 2 pm only).

Cap Metro shuttle buses after the game. Photo/R.B. Boyer

Cap Metro Fares

It's a bargain. Fares are low. However, they change and are amended. For current fares and routes you should visit their web site. Here is a brief guide to a sample of advertised fares.

Local Bus 75¢
Local Day Pass $1.50 (recommended for visitors)
Express Service $1.50
All Service Day Pass $3.00
Adult 31 Day Pass, local service$18.00
Adult 31 Day Pass, all service $36.00
Adult 7 Day Local Pass $7.00
'Dillo Fares free to 50¢ (2 hour pass)
'Dillo 31 Day All Use Pass $5.00

There are more fare schedules including Metrorail, Rideshare, reduced fares, plus special rate schedules for senior 65 years, disabled, students, faculty, child fares, frequent rider fares and city employees. Cap Metro rates are more easily understood than explained. Good cheap travel, somewhat slow, sometimes annoying, but the bargain and value are undeniable.

Cap Metro Tickets

I recommend ordering tickets online (www.capmetro.org/riding/buy.asp). It will save you time grief and gas money. However, if you're by any HEB or Randall's grocery store, you can buy your tickets there. Many other popular locations offering tickets include Whole Foods and Fiesta Market.

To help you determine which bus route is best for you, use Cap Metro's online trip planner. Big help. Google Transit can also help you plan your routes.

Dabnab

Text messaging trip planning when you're on the go. Nominated for 2008 Best Business Award, Dabnab has become a local overnight sensation.

It's free. No cost. Commuter sends SMS text message telling origin, destination and preferred departure and arrival times. Dabnab replies and tells you where to go and how to get there.

I'm simplifying the service but it does work very well. If you're going to use Cap Metro for any extended period becoming familiar with and using this service to coordinate your bus travel beats doing it yourself. Yeah Dabnab!!

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