As program manager owner representative, HDR will initially provide program and project management staff to expand the agency’s capacity and expertise as it moves toward implementation of Project Connect.
The Capital Metro Board of Directors in Austin, Texas, recently approved the selection of HDR to help manage the multi-year implementation of Project Connect, a comprehensive rethinking of transportation and mobility around the capital region.
CapMetro’s vision includes short-term enhancements to existing infrastructure, as well as traditional modes of mass transit such as bus rapid transit, light rail, and commuter rail on dedicated corridors. With an eye to the future, it will also look at the adoption and integration of emerging technologies, such as autonomous rapid transit.
The region’s fast-growing population — expected to double in the next two decades — prompted the public transportation provider to begin drafting a plan for a new system of reliable and congestion-free services to connect the area and move people, not just cars.
As program manager owner representative, HDR will initially provide program and project management staff to expand the agency’s capacity and expertise as it moves toward implementation of Project Connect. HDR and its principal subs, Systra USA and Rifeline, will be responsible for a wide range of technical areas involving program, financial and project controls; community outreach and engagement; environmental and engineering review; vehicle and technology assessment; and construction management oversight.
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.
