Austin City and Surrounding Area Transportation
Austin’s excellent airport facilities, together with the
intersection of Interstate Highway 35 and major U.S. and
state highways, makes Central Texas a opportune
location for materials distribution and business travel.
The city’s public transportation system and bicycle lanes
provide practical alternatives for transportation, although
driving around town is still popular and convenient with
several major highway routes. Three of the nation’s largest
cities—Dallas, Houston and San Antonio—are less than
3 hours away. Laredo is a major port of entry
between U.S. and Mexico and is only 4 hours from
Austin on I-35.
Texas Department of Transportation
www.dot.state.tx.us
Online map source:
www.mapquest.com
www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/atlas_texas
Roads & Highways
• Interstate Highway 35 (runs through Laredo,
San Antonio, San Marcos, Austin, Waco, Dallas/Fort Worth)
• U.S. Highway 183
• U.S. Highway 290
• State Highway 71
• State Loop 1 (nicknamed MoPac for the historic Missouri
Pacific Railway line that runs along it)
• State Loop 360 (Capital of Texas Highway)
• SH 130 will connect to I-35 north of Georgetown and to
I-10 east of San Antonio when completed.
Toll Roads
www.texastollways.com / 936.0980
The goal of the Texas Department of Transportation’s 2002 Central Texas Turnpike System is to relieve congestion to I-35 and surrounding roads within Travis & Williamson counties. It is estimated to cost a total of $3.6 billion and consists of 3 major parts:
• SH 130 - A 4 lane, 49 mile tollway east of I-35 that runs from north of Georgetown to U.S. 183 in southeast Travis County.
• SH 45 North - a 4 to 6 lane, 13 mile tollway with limited frontage roads extending from Ridgeline Boulevard west of U.S. 183 to SH 130.
• Loop 1 - a 6 lane, 3 mile tollway with limited frontage roads extending from Parmer Ln. to SH 45 North. www.texastollways.com
Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization provides information about toll roads, road construction, regional rapid transit, bicycle and pedestrian projects. www.campotexas.org
Railway Lines
Amtrak’s Texas Eagle
Runs from Chicago, IL to San Antonio, TX with connecting
service to Los Angeles, CA.
www.texaseagle.com
Amtrak
800.USA.RAIL (800.872.7245)
www.amtrak.com
Austin Steam Train
These leisurely historic rides include the Hill Country Flyer,
Bertram Flyer, River City Flyer, and Twilight Flyer.
www.austinsteamtrain.org / 477.8468
Buses
Capital Metro
www.capmetro.org / 474.1200 or 800.474.1201
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Capital Metro) transports over 130,000 passengers a day. A majority of buses have a fee of 50 cents, but rides are free on Ozone Days (check www.ci.austin.tx.us for Ozone Days). Current UT ID card holders ride free; other students with valid school IDs ride for half the cost. Frequent rider discounts are available. Schedules can be picked up at most libraries, HEB and Randall’s supermarkets, Capital Metro ticket sales outlets and online. Capital Metro makes it easy to get around by bus with their online Trip Planner, or just call to plan your trip. Route 100 Airport Flyer travels to ABIA and is a great alternative to airport parking. 2910 E. 5th St.
Capital Metro - Looking Ahead
The future bus transit system and light-rail line, the “All
Systems Go Long-Range Transit Plan”, was adopted by
Capital Metro on August 30, 2004. The future bus & rail
systems will include the following developments:
• Expansion of Express and Local Services - new routes and expansions are part of a long range plan.
• Rapid Bus Routes - high tech buses that will hold traffic
lights green at intersections to significantly speed up
those routes.
• Circulators - transit circulation areas providing
connections to the city’s major destinations such as UT,
the Capitol, and the downtown business district.
• Park & Rides - several will be added throughout the city
to service areas of new expansion.
• Light-Rail Line - from downtown to Leander using the
existing Capital Metro freight tracks.
• Regional Commuter Rail - Austin to San Marcos &
Georgetown using existing MoPac Expressway & the
abandoned MoKan corridor tracks (eventually linking San
Antonio, Manor & Elgin)
Greyhound
916 E. Koenig Ln. Austin, TX 78751
www.greyhound.com / 458.4463