Austin’s public transportation system could update how users plan their trips starting next year.
AUSTIN, Texas — Changes could be coming to Austin’s public transportation system starting next year.
CapMetro recently shared several proposed updates on its website, including removing the CapMetro app.
According to the site, the app will no longer be in use beginning March 2025. Instead, riders would be able to use the Umo Mobility app to make payments and the Transit app to plan and track their rides.
Even sooner than that, CapMetro also wants to introduce Reloadable Fare Cards starting in February 2025. The addition of these new cards would mean riders must exchange their plastic cards, like those part of the Travis County Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and AMP cards.
Customers would have to get rid of online week and month-long passes altogether, but they could keep the paper cards with a black stripe.
The reason for the removal and exchange of certain cards comes alongside CapMetro’s plan for a new tap-to-pay system. New validators will accept Apple and Google Pay, as well as credit and debit cards. However, the plastic payment cards won’t work with the new machines.
Riders will also be able to add money to their Reloadable Fare Cards and/or Umo app with an updated list of retailers, according to the company.
Before any changes are made, the proposal will be analyzed further to see if these updates would unfairly impact certain groups, such as those with lower incomes or minority community members.
If you’re interested in learning more, several meetings will be held next month, including an online discussion at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 7. An in-person meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Jan. 14 at the Rose Parks Boardroom, and a hearing is also set for noon on Jan. 15 at the same location.
