Weekend service opens door to CapMetro

AUSTIN (KXAN) - With his Downtown Burgers trailer sitting right around the corner from the downtown CapMetro rail station, Steve McDermott imagined the train would deliver more customers.

“I had hoped for more,” said McDermott, a Chicago native who knows all about trains and public transit.

But in the past year, McDermott has noticed a change.

“Finally, it is catching on. It has taken a while, but I see ridership increasing," he said.

The numbers back that statement up. 

In November 2010, the Capital MetroRail averaged about 750 riders per day. In November 2011, that number had skyrocketed to more than 1,750.

They are numbers CapMetro staff feels warrant expanding service to weekends.

“I think it is going to help folks who do not have the chance to use it during the week,” said Council member and Capital Metro board member Mike Martinez.

The proposed expansion is expected to be voted on by council members during Thursday’s regularly scheduled meeting. It would extend hours to midnight on Fridays and begin service from 4 p.m. Saturday to midnight on Sunday morning.

Extending the hours would cost $2.2 million a year, coming from the Capital Metro Quarter Cent Program.

“This money is in-place and dedicated to transportation projects,” said Martinez.

Martinez said the extended service is also an alternative to paying to park after the council approved extended hours for pay meter parking last year.