The CARTS District is a rural/urban transit district organized under Chapter 458 of the Texas Transportation Code as a political subdivision of the state and an entity responsible for transit services in a 7,000 square mile nine-county area surrounding Austin. The District includes the non-urbanized areas of Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Travis and Williamson counties.
Governed by a Board made up of a member from each of the nine County Commissioners Courts CARTS provides regional perspective and planning to operate the wide variety of community-based passenger transportation services in its District.
As the region has changed, so has the CARTS District and its role in integrating its transit services and planning with its metropolitan transit counterpart, CapMetro, including opening a jointly managed Mobility Management Office, and through interlocal agreement providing blended transit services region-wide to in an effort to establish a seamless interface between the two statutory transit jurisdictions. At its Eastside Bus Plaza CARTS, CapMetro and Greyhound-FlixBus have integrated the three services, metropolitan, regional, and national, for the public at one location.
CARTS delivers transportation tailored specifically for each of the communities it serves and provides predictable connections between these communities to the national intercity bus network, to CapMetro services and to the metropolitan center of the region. The service frequency in or to the various locales range from many times a day to once a month.
CARTS buses operate from eight transit stations located strategically throughout the CARTS District, which are also Greyhound-FlixBus stations. These stations are located in Austin at the Richard Moya Eastside Bus Plaza, Bastrop, Round Rock, Georgetown, Taylor, San Marcos, Smithville, Marble Falls and our Headquarters in Cedar Creek.
Established in 1978, CARTS is the longest serving public transit agency in the region, and has a reputation for innovation, a practical approach to problem-solving and promoting partnerships to achieve its objectives of furthering regional mobility.
Capital Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS) is unwavering in our commitment to offering equal employment opportunities (EEO) for all individuals. We diligently maintain a workforce environment that is entirely free from discrimination, creating a workplace where every person is valued, respected, and treated fairly.
The Interurban Coach is a regional intercity route providing connections between Austin International Airport, Austin, Bastrop, Bertram, Burnet,Georgetown, Liberty Hill, Lockhart, Luling, Marble Falls, Round Rock, San Marcos, Texas State University, La Grange, Giddings, Paige, Smithville and Elgin and makes connections to Greyhound, Capital Metro and Amtrak.
CARTS customers who use the Interurban Coach Routes into Austin can schedule a connecting ride from the CARTS Station to medical appointments or other businesses in Austin. The Grasshopper Service must be booked in advance and passengers must meet specific eligibility requirements (registered CARTS customer of age 65 or older, persons pre-approved under the reduced Fare program, CARTS ADA Eligibility Guidelines, or Veterans traveling to a VA Center). Connecting rides are subject to availability & offered at all CARTS stations.
The Country Bus serves Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, non-urbanized areas of Travis & Williamson County. This flexible service provides rides locally and to nearby destinations, but requires a ride reservation be made in advance. Ideal for seniors, disabled individuals or others requiring special assistance, this community transit service provides Curb-to-Curb transportation throughout the CARTS district, and connects to the regional intercity bus network for extending access beyond local destinations.
CARTS Now is a low-cost, on-demand ride service that will allow citizens to get from point A to point B on their own time. CARTS Now has no predetermined routes or schedules, and rides are available within 15 minutes of scheduling.
The online services are here to help customers communicate with our Reservations Center. Call our Reservations Center at 512-478-7433 to talk to a Reservationist about your trip or get information about our services.
