By Samantha Smith
Action at the May 17 Buda City Council meeting put into motion the first step toward addressing mass transit needs in Buda.
Council approved the adoption of the Capital Metro/City of Buda Transit Development Plan (TDP).
According to a presentation by Cap Metro, the adoption of the plan does not implement a particular phase or approach, but allows the conversation to continue with Cap Metro for service planning.
City staff presented some options to council that might meet the future transportation needs of Buda citizens.
Options included a demand response service, a commuter/express, a traditional fixed route and a flex-route service.
Buda started investigating mass transit options in 2014. The city then partnered with Capital Metro in March 2015 to develop a TDP for Buda.
In 2010, Buda was relabeled an Austin Urban area as opposed to a rural area, which caused a shift in transportation services.
As a result, Buda was forced to pay a fee for demand response service from the Capital Area Rural Transportation Service (CARTS).
CARTS, which is a demand response service, is a transportation option for people in rural areas at no cost, but operates in urban areas for a fee.
CARTS also has a specific route that may or may not meet the transportation needs of Buda citizens, according to Capital Metro Representative Michelle Meaux.
The partnership with Capital Metro has the possibility of bringing with it federal funding for future transit options. Capital Metro is already pursuing grant programs to support the cost of future transit plans.
The goals of the proposed transit plans, according to Capital Metro, are to provide Buda citizens access to shopping, jobs, medical appointments, and other services they require as well as providing commuter service to downtown Austin.
Meaux said that the TDP would help establish a solid foundation for transit to build on over time and have the possibility of connecting to future regional services like the Lone Star Rail.
In a later interview council member Angela Kennedy said that ridership and cost would eventually determine what mass transit option the city decides to go with.
“I want to see a commuter bus to Southpark Meadows at the least,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy was optimistic about the partnership with Capital Metro.
“We want to move forward with the planning stage and see what they come up with,” Kennedy said.
Buda Mayor Todd Ruge on the other hand wants to look at mass transit options “cautiously”.
“Ridership would be one of the major determining factors in a future mass transit option,” Ruge said.
Ruge suggested that the city purchase a van and hire a full time driver in order to meet demand service needs. But he said that a mass transit plan would not be effectual until the 2017-2018 budget cycle.
