Capital Metro, Austin Transportation to Pilot Modular Bus Stop at the University of Texas
Agencies partner to test new platform design to improve safety and reliability of service
AUSTIN, Texas – In partnership with Austin Transportation, Capital Metro will test a curb extension device in the hopes of improving customer experience at one of Austin’s busiest bus stops.
Capital Metro will consolidate the existing MetroBus stop and MetroRapid station on the southeast corner of Guadalupe Street and Dean Keeton Street to improve efficiency, reliability and safety of service. Both stops will be combined as a single stop on the northeast side of the intersection, removing the delay for northbound vehicles turning right onto Dean Keeton Street and following industry best practices for transit speed and reliability.
Passengers load bus from ZICLA platform in Charlotte, NC. (Courtesy: Charlotte DOT)
Austin Transportation will place a curb extension, made by ZICLA and spanning approximately 120 feet, on Guadalupe Street in the bike lane north of Dean Keeton Street. The new platform will enable Capital Metro buses to meet the sidewalk and curb without pulling out of a travel lane, as well as provide separation from the roadway for people walking, biking, and boarding transit at the intersection. Green and white striping on the platform will guide people biking past the stop to yield to people boarding buses at the stop. The modular curb extension’s non-slip base of recycled rubber will be anchored to the street surface, allowing for easy installation and removal.
ZICLA platforms have been used to quickly and affordably improve conditions for transit customers from Los Angeles to New York City, as well as locations abroad. Austin Transportation and Capital Metro will assess how the pilot functions for all users of the roadway over the next six months before considering a more permanent solution.
The pilot hopes to achieve the following goals:
• Retain convenient access to the university campus
• Alleviate traffic congestion by freeing up space for right turns on Dean Keeton Street
• Improve bus efficiency and travel times
• Facilitate safer interactions between pedestrians, cars, buses and bikes
This project is funded through the 2018 Transit Speed & Reliability Interlocal Agreement between Capital Metro and the City of Austin and is the result of ongoing collaboration between the agency’s Transit Speed & Reliability and Transit Enhancement programs.
Capital Metro and Austin Transportation are planning to consolidate the bus stops and install the new technology in January 2021. Construction should take about a week to complete, and the pilot is expected to last for six months.
In collaboration with area partners, Austin Transportation Department leads our community’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries on Austin streets, the achievement of a 50/50 commute type split by 2039 as established in the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan, and actively seeks innovative solutions and piloting technology that can decrease the use of single-occupancy vehicles and improve safety through Austin Transportation Department's Smart Mobility Office. For details, please visit AustinTexas.gov/Transportation.
Capital Metro connects people, jobs and communities by providing Central Texans with safe, high-quality and sustainable transportation alternatives. The agency provides 30 million rides annually on its buses, trains, paratransit and vanpool vehicles and serves a population of more than 1.2 million in its 543-square-mile service area. The region’s public transportation provider, Capital Metro’s mission is to connect our community by providing people with quality transportation choices. The agency’s vision is to grow our transportation network to create a more sustainable and connected community.
