Austin transit riders could see the cost of a local CapMetro bus ride rise 60%, from $1.25 to $2, under a two-phase fare proposal. The plan would raise the fare to $1.50 in January 2027 and $2 in January 2029, with proposed increases also covering Pickup, commuter and paratransit service, according to CBS Austin.
The proposal would be CapMetro's first systemwide fare increase since 2015. The agency says it has kept fares unchanged while expanding service, but rising operating costs now require additional revenue, according to CBS Austin.
Pickup, the agency's on-demand rideshare-style service, would also rise from $1.25 to $1.50 starting in January 2027 and to $2.00 in January 2029, per the station's reporting. Commuter service fares would see the steepest jump, climbing from $3.50 to $4.00 in January 2027 and then to $5.00 in January 2029. CapMetro Access, the agency's paratransit shuttle service, would go from $1.75 to $2.25 in 2027 and $3.25 by 2029, as reported by CBS Austin.
Why CapMetro Says It Needs More Revenue
CapMetro attributes the need for higher fares to inflation and increased costs for fuel, equipment, maintenance and other transit operations. The agency says the phased schedule is intended to give riders time to adjust while providing a more sustainable source of operating revenue, according to CBS Austin.
What the financial record shows
Transportation-fare revenue figures cited in the article were $7.8 million in fiscal 2025, $8.3 million in fiscal 2024 and $10.7 million in fiscal 2023, according to the agency's FY2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. The same audited report says CapMetro's 1% sales-and-use tax accounted for 67.0% of all agency revenue in fiscal 2025, showing that fares are one component of a broader revenue structure. The cited April 13, 2022 advisory-committee minutes discuss transit programs and accessibility, according to CapMetro meeting minutes.
Since 2015, the agency notes it has invested in new vehicles and infrastructure, added rapid service, increased frequency on key routes, expanded Pickup service and established its own transit police department. CapMetro has also modernized its fare-payment technology over that same span, CBS Austin reported in CBS Austin.
Riders and Workers Push Back on Higher Fares
Riders and transit workers have raised concerns about the effect of higher fares, according to the station's report. Peyton Rowlands, identified in the coverage as a CapMetro bus driver, told KEYE that “a majority of negative interactions that we have with riders are as a result of having to try and collect the fare.”
CapMetro says it reviewed other budget options and conducted a Title VI fare-equity analysis before proposing the increase, according to the same account. The agency also proposes expanding reduced-fare eligibility to people who qualify through veteran status or household income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level, per CBS Austin.
Who Already Qualifies for Discounted Fares
CapMetro's existing reduced-fare program already provides a 50% discount to seniors, riders with disabilities, Medicare card holders and eligible military personnel, per the station's reporting. Riders with qualifying disabilities can apply for a Reduced Fare ID Card to access that half-price fare, according to capmetro.org. CapMetro Access itself operates as a paratransit shuttle service offered seven days a week for qualifying riders who live within three-quarters of a mile of a regular fixed-route bus line, the agency's website states.
Hearing Held, Board Vote Set for Later This Month
CapMetro held a public hearing on the fare proposal Wednesday at the Rosa Parks Boardroom, located at 2910 E. Fifth Street in Austin. In-person speakers were required to arrive at least 15 minutes early to sign up, while remote participation was available for those who registered in advance, according to the report.
The CapMetro board is expected to vote on the proposed fare changes on September 28. If approved, riders would see the first round of increases take effect in January 2027, with the second phase following in January 2029.
