The city of Austin has received an $11.3 million federal grant from the Texas Department of Transportation's Transportation Alternative Set-Aside (TASA) grant program to support the expansion and transition to electric bicycles for Austin's MetroBike bike share program. This funding will allow for the growth of the fleet and an increase in the number of docking stations for the e-bikes, according to a press release by the city of Austin.
"The overall size of the fleet will grow, as will the number of docking stations where the ebikes are checked out, returned and charged," stated the city of Austin.
The expansion of the fleet and the addition of more docking stations will meet the rising demand for MetroBike services, which has significantly increased since the introduction of e-bikes. In April 2023, the program recorded nearly 28,000 monthly trips. This expansion, in partnership with CapMetro, will triple the coverage of Austin's public bike-share system, as stated in a press release by the city of Austin.
"Thanks to this grant award from TxDOT, Austin will receive a tremendous boost to active mobility," said Richard Mendoza, interim director of the Austin Transportation and Public Works Department, according to a press release by the city of Austin. "As our city grows and grapples with the issues of congestion and climate change, this gives Austinites and visitors more options to travel in a sustainable, environmentally friendly way."
The grant will also enable the replacement and expansion of the existing 81 stations and 800 bicycles in downtown Austin. This will extend the reach of the public bike-share system to cover the urban core north and east to US 183 and south to Ben White Boulevard, aligning with equity objectives and plans to enhance system access for Austin's population, according to the city of Austin's press release.
"Investments in our bike share program will better connect our customers to the larger, more comprehensive web of mobility in Austin," said Dottie Watkins, president and CEO at CapMetro, according to a press release by the city of Austin. "The enhancements made possible through this grant will offer greater flexibility and access for riders whether it’s their first or last mile and everything in between."
With the federal grant funding, Austin's MetroBike program will be able to expand its fleet, increase the number of docking stations, and provide more sustainable transportation options for residents and visitors alike.