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Austin's managable size makes it easy to get around. Most places are no more than 20 minutes away by car. For many residents, a car is vital for errands like grocery shopping. But there's also an excellent public transportation system and community transit for those with special needs. Here's how to get around by car, taxi, train, bus, community transit, and plane.
By car Except during the sluggish 7 am-8 am and 5 pm-6 pm rush hours, it's easy to get around by car on the arteries that run the perimeter of town. The north-south arteries are the better for getting around the center of town than are the east-west passages. I-35 to the east, and Mopac (short for "Missouri Pacific" and a.k.a. "Loop 1") to the west,, each offer six fast-moving north-south lanes. Two newly completed roads offer crossing in the other direction: Ben White is your best bet for getting east-west when far south of Town Lake. And Hwy 183 will whisk you from the northwest toward the east side. But in between, local cross streets like 35th Street, Windsor/24th Street, and 5th/6th street (each one-way), Cesar Chavez (a.k.a. 1st Street) and Barton Springs Road, are slowed by traffic lights and commercial traffic. Taxi drivers recommend taking Enfield/15th Street as the best way to get crosstown. By taxi Austin taxicab companies work 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They offer nonsmoking and smoking cabs and some take credit cards. Rates for Austin are $1.50 when a rider enters the cab and $1.50 per mile. There is a 50-cent surcharge for trips leaving from Robert Mueller Municipal Airport. Rates to travel to surrounding cities vary among companies, as do hours of operation.  Ace Taxi (512) 244-1133 American Cab (512) 452-9999 or 472-1111, hearing impaired 835-7272, business office 434-7707 Austin Cab (512) 478-2222 Roy's Taxi (512) 482-0000 Yellow Checker Cab (512) 472-1111By bus Capital Metro (512) 474-1200, provides a comprehensive public transit system throughout a 505 square mile area. More than 60 bus routes serve the cities of Austin, Cedar Park, Leander, Lago Vista, Jonestown, Pflugerville, Manor and San Leanna. Fares 50 cents for adult one-way fixed route; $1 for adult one-way express/park-and-ride; free for Dillo service; half-price for students through undergraduate years in college; no fare for University of Texas students, residents 65 or older, children under 6 accompanied by adult and people with disabilities who have proper identification. Capital Metro ID cards are available at the Capital Metro Customer Sevice Center, 106 E. Eighth . Discounted monthly passes and ticket booklets are available at most grocery stores. Operating hours are Monday through Saturday, 5 a.m to midnight; Sunday, 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. (Not all routes start that early or operate that late.) For route schedules, call 474-1200. Special transit service provides door-through-door service. The driver will help a person through the door at the point of origin, into the vehicle, and through the door at destination. Cost is 60 cents per person per trip. For reservations, call 478-9647. Van pools Capital Metro arranges car and van pools for commutes to business locations. To form a van pool, call 477-RIDE.
The station is located at 916 E. Koenig Lane (RM 2222), just west of I-35, near Highland Mall. Daily bus trips from Austin to Dallas, San Antonio, and Laredo. Service to 2,500 U.S. destinations. Tickets must be purchased at terminal. Reservations are not accepted until tickets are purchased. Information on fares and schedules: (800) 231-2222. The station is located at 916 E. Koenig Lane (RM 2222). Daily direct bus service to Kerrville, Houston, Killeen and Bryan-College Station. Service to numerous Texas cities. In Austin, tickets must be purchased at Greyhound Station. Reservations not accepted. Information on fares and schedules: (800) 231-2222. Capital Area Rural Transportation System operates community transit services in a nine-county area, including rural Travis County and Williamson, Hays, Bastrop and Caldwell counties. Services include daily commuter services and local and long-distance transportation for senior citizens going to medical appointments. Service hours and fees vary by route and service. For operations and schedule information, call 478-RIDE or (800) 456-RIDE. Administrative offices can be reached at 389-1011. AMTRAK -- Station: 250 N. Lamar Blvd., a block north of Town Lake. Northbound service 9:30 a.m. Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays to Taylor, Temple, McGregor, Cleburne, Fort Worth, Dallas, Longview, Marshall, Mineola, Texarkana, Little Rock, St. Louis, Chicago, and connecting cities coast to coast. Southbound service 9:28 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays to San Marcos; San Antonio; Del Rio; Sanderson; Alpine; El Paso; Deming, N.M.; Los Angeles and destinations in between. Amtrak's transcontinentaltrain, which runs from Los Angeles to Miami, stops in San Antonio. Reservations are required for all trips. Call: in Austin, 476-5684 from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. except Wednesday and Saturday, when the office is open 1:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Also can call (800) USA-RAIL (872-7245) 24 hours a day.
America West Airlines (800) 235-9292 American Airlines (800) 433-7300 Conquest Airlines (512) 929-6700 Continental Airlines (512) 477-6716 Delta Airlines (800) 221-1212 Northwest Airlines (800) 225-2525 Southwest Airlines (800) 435-9292 United Airlines (800) 241-6522 USAir (800) 428-4322 |
