Progress in mobility across Central Texas was made earlier this year when the Texas Department of Transportation allocated $20.8 million in federal grants to improve transportation services for rural populations in Texas.
The Capital Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS) was one of the recipients of a portion of the total grant money allowing it to supplement its rural transit fleet with 20 new buses.
CARTS serves the non-urbanized areas of Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Travis and Williamson counties and the San Marcos urbanized areas. Routes within CARTS include those to the Wimberley area.
Dana Platt, community services director, said currently CARTS transports more than 300,000 passengers annually in a 7,200 square mile, nine-county area around Austin.
Dana Platt, community services director with CARTS, said the additional 20 buses brings the organization’s fleet to more than 100.
The 20 new buses will be added to the fleet as Country Buses, which is a flex service providing rides locally to anyone who makes a reservation in advance.
Platt said the Country Bus is ideal for seniors, disabled individuals or anyone else requiring special assistance for curb-to-curb transportation throughout the CARTS district.
CARTS also has its medical transportation buses, the Interurban Coach, Metro Connector, Municipal Bus, National Intercity services and Commuter routes.
Platt said medical transportation services offered by CARTS is the result of a partnership with Logisticare Solutions, LLC which arranges free transportation for eligible persons in the CARTS district through the Texas Health and Human Services call centers.
The Interurban Coach is a regional intercity route providing connections between Austin and several area cities, including San Marcos. CARTS also offers Interurban Coach services to Texas State University in San Marcos.
Platt said CARTS is a public agency established by state law under the authority of the Texas Transportation Commission and the Texas Department of Transportation. It is governed by a board of local elected officials made up of one commissioner from each county served and a representative from the San Marcos City Council.
Funding for the organization comes from a combination of federal, state and local funds, as well as contract revenues.
“The federal funds originate with the Federal Transit Administration and the state funds with the Texas Department of Transportation and the local funds are requested from each locale in which we operate services,” Platt said.
Platt said anyone can ride a CARTS bus, not just the elderly and disabled, even though customers over the age of 65 and persons with disabilities are eligible to pay half-fares.
Platt said currently CARTS transports more than 300,000 passengers annually in a 7,200 square mile, nine-county area surrounding Austin.
The additional vehicles mark a huge stride in the history of CARTS, which began in 1979. It’s the longest serving public transit agency in the region for the last 39 years.
Platt said the grant funds were also used to create a Vehicle Maintenance Center (VMC) where all CARTS buses can be serviced or repaired in-house. The complex is located on a 14-acre site near the Bastrop and Travis County lines.
“We are now in Phase 2 construction of the Lee Dildy Operations Complex which includes the CARTS headquarters and administration offices as well as paint and body shop,” Platt said.
