New bus fleet will keep lights green

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Imagine a commute with no more red lights from one end of Austin to the other.

Officials are looking to get it up and running by 2013.

Capital Metro is moving ahead with plans for a fleet of 40 new buses that will have the GPS technology to keep traffic signals green as they pass through. The public transit system plans to spend $9 million on the flee and the federal government will kick  in $38 million more.

"They'll provide more frequency, a better ride and lower commute times," Cap Metro Board Vice Chairman John Langmore said. "Think of them as a rail line with rubber tires."

There are two routes: South Congress Avenue from Slaughter lane, through the University of Texas campus, continuing north on Lamar Boulevard. The other runs from North Burnet Road to South Lamar Boulevard.

Similar systems are run in Eugene, Oregon, Philadelphia, Tacoma, Los Angeles, Oakland and Sacramento.

The Austin buses will run 14 hours each weekday, and at peak hours they will come by at ten minute intervals. One Austin commuter can't wait.

"That's awesome," said Naomi Vela. "Right now it takes me an hour and a half to get to school."