Austin's Capital Metro public transportation system is overhauling its logo with a redesign that cost nearly $200,000.
According to The Cannon, Capital Metro recently paid an agency nearly $200,000 to redesign the logo for the organization. This move comes ahead of a $7.1 billion investment in improving public transportation in the state.
The new logo removes the image of the Texas Capitol dome from the logo and just uses text to spell the word "CapMetro." Some critics argue that the new redesign is unnecessary and expensive.
"Needless to say, CapMetro’s logo redesign is simultaneously gratuitous and underwhelming. It’s disturbing for both how much was spent and how little was returned. Austinites deserve better," Austin Quintero, of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, wrote, according to The Cannon.
The design agency can also receive an additional $225,000 in 2022. The cost does not include money needed to replace the logo on vehicles, uniforms and more.
Sherry Matthews Group, a market research firm, and Asterisk, a branding agency, worked on the project, according to KUT 90.5 News.
"We believe that CapMetro is what our community calls us," Executive Vice President Brian Carter told the agency's board members when unveiling the new logo, KUT reported. "We want to embrace that and just become who we already are."
The new logo is intended to be gradually introduced over the next five to 10 years.