Sunset Commission Meeting

The agenda for the Sunset Commission meeting scheduled for November 14, 2024, is now available.

Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Agency History

Historical Notes

During the 84th Legislative Session in 2015 the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority was removed from Sunset review.

Previous Sunset reports on this agency

  • 1990-1991 Review Cycle, 72nd Legislative Session

This agency is currently inactive. An agency can be labeled inactive if it has been abolished, had a title change, was merged into a different agency or split into different agencies. See Agency History on the right for further information.

Next Review Date: None

  • Last Review Cycle: 2010-2011 Review Cycle - 82nd Legislative Session

Sunset Documents for 2010-2011 Review Cycle, 82nd Legislative Session

Legislative Documents

Final Results of Last Sunset Review

Created in 1985, the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Capital Metro) provides public transportation services for the Austin area and some outlying communities. These services include bus services, paratransit services for persons with disabilities, and commuter rail from Austin to Leander.  Capital Metro does not receive state appropriations, and funds its operations primarily through sales tax revenues and federal transportation funds. An eight-member Board, three of whom are locally elected officials, oversees Capital Metro. Capital Metro is subject to review, but not abolishment, under the Sunset Act.

Senate Bill 650 makes needed changes in law to ensure that Capital Metro follows through in more responsibly managing its finances and reserves, lowering its excessive labor costs, and prioritizing needed maintenance of its outdated railroad bridges. The Legislature adopted the majority of the Sunset Commission’s recommendations, removing only a few provisions already implemented by Capital Metro. The Legislature also added a new provision to address how to maintain services for certain people with disabilities in areas that withdrew from Capital Metro’s service area. A list of the bill’s major provisions follows.

  • Require the Board to revamp Capital Metro’s reserves and budgeting practices to ensure its finances are responsibly managed.
  • Require Capital Metro to competitively bid all transit services not directly provided by its own employees.
  • Enhance the ongoing safety of Capital Metro’s commuter rail system.
  • Require Capital Metro to develop a policy to more effectively engage stakeholders and to help rebuild the public’s trust.
  • Require Capital Metro to provide services to certain persons with disabilities living in communities that withdrew from its service area.