Austin, Texas’ Capital Metro announced the agency’s “Summer Sun, Late Nights, and Family Fun” service pilot, which includes free rides for kids in grades K to 12 and expanded weekend MetroRail service. The service will kick off June 8 and last through Sept. 1.
“These pilot initiatives respond directly to what I have been hearing from customers and partners during our customer engagement events,” Capital Metro President/CEO Randy Clarke said. “They enable us to use our existing services and investments to increase ridership and provide community-focused mobility solutions.”
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All summer long, kids will ride free of charge throughout Capital Metro’s service area. The free rides for kids will connect seamlessly to Capital Metro’s free fares week for Cap Remap and last until Sept. 1. The pilot will allow all kids to take advantage of free and safe public transportation to explore the region and have better access to summer programs.
“We are thankful to work with partners like Capital Metro and the City of Austin to expand opportunities for students during the upcoming summer months,” Austin ISD Superintendent Paul Cruz said. “Free public transportation for students will allow children of all ages to safely travel for summer classes, work, or simply to enjoy summer vacation in Austin. Ultimately, this program is an investment in the youth of Central Texas.”
In response to feedback from the community and local businesses, Capital Metro will also expand its weekend MetroRail service hours for this pilot period.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.
