Texas officials approve $345M for mobility projects, including Austin's bike share system
Texas highway officials earmarked nearly $30 million in federal funding for a number of Austin-area pedestrian and bicycle mobility improvements, with more than a third of grant funds going toward expanding and electrifying Austin's public bike share program.
The state's funding allocation to safety-focused infrastructure projects in Central Texas is part of the Texas Transportation Commission's approval — which the body called historic — of $345.1 million for similar projects across the state.
The commission's Oct. 26 announcement comes after cities and counties across the state submitted the project proposals to the Texas Department of Transportation to consider. The process to solicit applications kicked off in December 2022.
The $345.1 million will go toward 83 projects across the state — nine of which are in TxDOT's Austin District, which includes Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Gillespie, Hays, Lee, Llano, Mason, Travis and Williamson counties. Here's which projects will get an injection of federal cash to become a reality.
$11.29 million for MetroBike expansion in Austin
$2.66 million for intersection improvements in Pflugerville
$6.3 million for Heritage Trail shared-use path in Round Rock
$1.53 million for a sidewalk project on Old Fitzhugh Road in Dripping Springs
$1.58 million to install sidewalks on Farm-to-Market Road 487 in Florence
$1.81 million for a southside corridor U.S. 290 in Giddings
$1.35 million for shared-use path in San Marcos
$1.38 million to build sidewalks on Ranch-to-Market Road in downtown Wimberley
$1.84 million for a Great Springs Trail corridor planning study in Austin/San Antonio
What is MetroBike?
MetroBike is owned, operated and managed through a joint partnership between the city of Austin and CapMetro and Bike Share of Austin, a local nonprofit. The city of Austin owns the stations and bikes while CapMetro operates and maintains the system.
The public bike share system first rolled into city streets in 2013, then called Austin BCycle and focusing entirely on downtown Austin with 11 stations and 100 bikes. By 2018, the system had grown to 63 stations and 520 bikes, according to a MetroBike expansion plan the three entities published in November 2021.
The system has grown to 800 bikes and 81 stations, according to an Oct. 26 news release from the city announcing the TxDOT grant award. The grant, the city said, will result in CapMetro "tripling the reach and density" of the public bike-share system beyond downtown Austin and north and east to U.S. 183 and south to Ben White Boulevard.
Funds from the federal grant will go toward fully transitioning the MetroBike fleet to electric-assist bicycles, or "e-bikes." About 43% of the current fleet are e-bikes while the remainder are traditional bicycles, according to the city.
"Thanks to this grant award from TxDOT, Austin will receive a tremendous boost to active mobility," Richard Mendoza, interim director of the Austin Transportation and Public Works Department, said in the city's news release. "As our city grows and grapples with the issues of congestion and climate change, this gives Austinites and visitors more options to travel in a sustainable, environmentally friendly way."
More on CapMetro: With operator change looming, Austin transit union ratifies contract to run through 2025
Usage for MetroBike has "steadily grown" since 2019, according to the city, from less than 5,000 to 12,000 trips per month during the COVID-19 pandemic. Usage has climbed to nearly 28,000 monthly trips as of April 2023 — an increase city officials attribute to the infusion of e-bikes.
In the city news release, CapMetro President and CEO Dottie Watkins said, "The enhancements made possible through this grant will offer greater flexibility and access for riders whether it’s their first or last mile and everything in between."
Marquee events drawing more people to Austin, like South by Southwest and the Austin City Limits Music Festival, result in more MetroBike usage, according to the city. Last year's SXSW saw more than 37,000 rides while the ACL musical festival had 34,000 and 43,000 in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Where is the funding coming from?
The funding allocation derives from TxDOT's Transportation Alternative Set-Aside grant program, which is funded through the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration. The funds, administered by TxDOT, go toward locally sponsored bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects in communities across the state.
TxDOT, in its news release, said this year's allocation is six times greater than the last infusion of the program's funding in 2021, which totaled $55 million.
“This is a major investment in communities across the state that will help make it safer and easier to get around on foot or a bike,” Texas Transportation Commissioner Robert “Robie” Vaughn said in the news release. “This optionality supports safety, active lifestyles, health and wellness, and can provide alternatives to traveling by vehicle.”
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: TxDOT approves nearly $30 million for Austin-area mobility projects
