Capital Metro is reaching out to residents in the suburbs north of Austin for input on possible transit options for connecting them to Central Austin. Cap Metro says it’s the number one transportation priority for the region. The big reason? A lot of people may live in Williamson County, but many of them work in Travis County.
Cap Metro has already heard from people during traditional open houses. Now, the transit company is seeking input through a website – what it’s calling an “Online Open House.”
The website lets visitors control what looks like a sort of power point presentation. It highlights a few problems: congestion, rapid population growth and the restraints of the current highway system.
But what Cap Metro says it’s really interested in is feedback. One of the most interesting forms of feedback that commuters can give is on the site’s “Interactive Map.” Website visitors are invited to draw in suggested transportation alternatives for getting around in the North Corridor during rush hour.
There’s also an 11-point questionnaire and – as any weary test-taker will appreciate – it's complete with multiple choice, short answer and yes/no questions.
But while there’s a lot of talk about possible solutions, it could be a while before any are actually put in place. The study and analysis portion of the project alone is slated to go on for at least 18 months. It’s being paid for with a federal grant.
Feedback is being accepted on the website through Nov. 7.
