Austin guide

How does public transit work in Austin?

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This article is part of our Moving to Austin guide.

Last updated October 19, 2026

Public transit in Austin is run by CapMetro and is mostly a bus system, built around four frequent Rapid lines, one commuter train (the Red Line) and on-demand Pickup vans in outer neighborhoods. A local bus ride costs $1.25, and if you pay with the Umo app, a reloadable card or a tap of your phone, you never pay more than $2.50 a day. Fares go up on January 10, 2027. Light rail is planned but not built: construction is scheduled to start in 2027, with trains targeted for 2033.

Local bus fare$1.25rises to $1.50 on Jan. 10, 2027 (CapMetro)
Daily fare cap$2.50local service, Umo/card/tap, Oct. 2026
Rapid bus lines4every 10 min on weekdays, June 2026
Light rail opening2033target, per Austin Transit Partnership, Aug. 2026

What is CapMetro and what does it run?

CapMetro (Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority) is the regional transit agency for Austin and a few nearby communities. It is paid for largely by a 1% sales tax, which is part of the 8.25% you pay at the register in Austin. CapMetro says it covers about 547 square miles and roughly 1.34 million people, runs 69 bus routes, and logged about 83,000 weekday boardings as of August 2026.

In practice:

  • Local buses, the bulk of the system. Ten local routes are high-frequency; many others come every 30 minutes or less often.
  • Rapid buses, four limited-stop lines with branded stations.
  • Plus the Red Line train, express buses, Pickup vans and bikeshare.

Which MetroRapid lines run in 2026?

Rapid lines (long called MetroRapid; CapMetro now just says “Rapid”) are the backbone of Austin transit. If you want to live without a car, live near one of these four corridors.

LineMain routeGood for
801 North Lamar/South CongressTech Ridge to Southpark Meadows via UT and downtownNorth Lamar, Hyde Park area, South Congress
803 Burnet/South LamarThe Domain to Westgate via UT and downtownDomain, Burnet Road, South Lamar
800 Pleasant ValleyBerkman/Mueller to Goodnight Ranch Park & Ride via Pleasant ValleyMueller, East Riverside, Southeast Austin
837 Expo CenterExpo Center Park & Ride to Republic Square via UTNortheast and East Austin

The two newest lines, 800 and 837, started in February 2025 and reached full service with the June 2026 service change, along with two new park and rides at the Expo Center and Goodnight Ranch. CapMetro’s schedule for the new lines is a bus every 10 minutes on weekdays from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., every 15 minutes on weekday late evenings and Saturday daytime, and every 15 to 30 minutes on Sunday daytime.

How does the MetroRail Red Line work?

The Red Line is a commuter train, not a subway. It runs 32 miles from Leander through Northwest and North Central Austin to the Downtown station near the convention center, with 10 stations. The newest is McKalla Station, next to Q2 Stadium, which opened in February 2024 so Austin FC fans could ride to games.

  • Hours: Monday through Thursday 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday 5 a.m. to midnight; Saturday 10 a.m. to midnight. No regular Sunday service.
  • Frequency: every 15 to 30 minutes, with extra trains during big events like SXSW and ACL.
  • Fare: commuter fare, $3.50 a ride, which also covers buses.
  • Coming next: a new station near the Domain, North Burnet/Uptown (planned as Broadmoor Station). Construction began in late 2025, and KUT reported it was expected to open in late 2027.

The train works best if you live near a northern station and work downtown. CapMetro trimmed some weekday trips on October 12, 2026, so check the current schedule.

What about express buses, Pickup and the airport?

MetroExpress

Express routes carry commuters from park and rides into the city: 980 North MoPac, 985 Leander/Lakeline, 982 Pavilion, 935 Tech Ridge and 990 Manor/Elgin. They charge the commuter fare.

Pickup

Pickup is a shared van you book in the Pickup app or by phone (512-369-6200). It runs in 12 zones, including East ATX, Northeast ATX, Dove Springs, North Oak Hill, Manor, Leander and Lago Vista. Most zones run weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and some also run Saturdays. A ride costs the same as a local bus, $1.25, and counts toward your daily cap. Rides stay inside the zone.

Getting to the airport

Route 20 runs between Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and downtown along Riverside Drive, continuing to UT, every 15 to 30 minutes, seven days a week. The stop is on the lower level outside baggage claim. In June 2026 CapMetro added early weekend morning trips for airport travelers. After midnight, the 483 Night Owl covers the Riverside corridor. The fare is the regular $1.25.

How much does it cost, and how does fare capping work?

Austin uses fare capping instead of making you choose passes upfront. You pay per ride until you hit the cap, then ride free for the rest of the day or month. Daily capping works with the Umo app, the free Reloadable Fare Card, or tapping a contactless credit card or phone on the bus (Tap to Pay launched on all buses February 1, 2026). Monthly capping works only with Umo or the Reloadable Fare Card. Cash still works for single rides but never caps.

On September 28, 2026, CapMetro’s board approved its first systemwide fare increase since 2015, in two steps. CapMetro cites rising fuel, maintenance and staffing costs.

FareNow (through Jan. 9, 2027)From Jan. 10, 2027From Jan. 2029
Local single ride$1.25$1.50$2.00
Local day / month cap$2.50 / $41.25$3.00 / $49.50$4.00 / $66.00
Commuter single ride$3.50$4.00$5.00
Commuter day / month cap$7.00 / $96.25$8.00 / $110.00$10.00 / $137.50
Reduced local single ride$0.60$0.75$1.00

Even in 2027, a month of local rides caps under $50. For the full budget picture, see how much it costs to live in Austin.

Who rides free or at a discount?

  • Free: anyone under 18, and uniformed military and emergency personnel.
  • Reduced fare (about half price): people 65 and older, Medicare cardholders, people with disabilities, and active or reserve military with ID. With the 2027 change, CapMetro is adding veterans and households at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. Apply online or at the Transit Store, 1705 Guadalupe St.
  • Students: UT and ACC students can ride using their school ID or pass under partner agreements.

Is CapMetro Bikeshare running in 2026?

Partly. A fire at CapMetro’s bike charging facility in late May 2026 took the fleet of nearly 500 electric-assist bikes off the street. KUT reported that service began returning in stages on August 11, 2026, starting with about 150 bikes around UT. Only 12 of the system’s stations can charge bikes, so availability is uneven. CapMetro expects full service by the end of 2026. Check the CapMetro Bikeshare app before you walk to a dock.

Prices: $2.50 to unlock plus $0.25 a minute, or $25 for 31 days.

When will Project Connect light rail open?

Not for years. Austin has no light rail today. The first phase, run by the Austin Transit Partnership (ATP), is a 9.8-mile line from 38th Street and Guadalupe through downtown, then south to South Congress and east along East Riverside. The cost estimate is $7.1 billion.

  • January 2026: federal environmental review approved.
  • Funding: ATP is counting on federal grants for about half the cost. As of its August 2026 report, it was in the federal Project Development phase, aiming to move into Engineering in 2027. No federal funding agreement has been signed yet.
  • Schedule: construction and testing planned for 2027 to 2033, with service targeted for 2033.

If you’re choosing an apartment now, plan around the buses that exist, not the train that might.

Where does transit work in Austin, and where doesn’t it?

Transit works best in a fairly narrow central band:

  • Works well: downtown, UT and West Campus, Hyde Park, North Lamar and Burnet Road, South Congress and South Lamar, East Riverside and Mueller. These sit on Rapid lines or several frequent routes.
  • Works for commuting: the Domain area, Leander and Lakeline, if your job is downtown or near a Red Line or express stop.
  • Hard: most of West Austin and the hills, far South and far Northwest Austin, and suburbs outside CapMetro’s service area. Buses there can come every 30 to 60 minutes, if at all.
  • Weak spots: late nights, Sundays and cross-town trips that skip downtown and UT.

Plan for heat, too: long, unshaded summer walks to stops are part of riding here. Our post on whether you need a car in Austin goes deeper. To compare neighborhoods, see the best Austin neighborhoods for newcomers, and you can browse big buildings near transit on the map at our sister site, AustinApartmentBuildings.com.

Frequently asked questions about public transit in Austin

Can I pay for a CapMetro bus with my credit card?

Yes. Since February 1, 2026, you can tap a contactless card or phone on any CapMetro bus, and it caps at the daily limit. For monthly capping you need the Umo app or a Reloadable Fare Card.

Does the Red Line run on Sundays?

No regular Sunday service is listed. The train runs Monday through Saturday, with later hours on Friday and Saturday nights and extra service for some big events.

How much will a CapMetro bus cost in 2027?

From January 10, 2027, a local ride is $1.50, with a $3.00 daily cap and a $49.50 monthly cap. A second increase in January 2029 raises the local fare to $2.00.

Is there a train from the Austin airport?

No. The airport is served by bus Route 20 to downtown and UT, every 15 to 30 minutes, for the $1.25 local fare. Planned light rail would not reach the airport in its first phase.

New to the city? Start with our guide to moving to Austin.

Sources

Go Big City Team
Author: Go Big City Team

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