The City of Austin Urban Transportation Commission on Oct. 7 approved a multi‑part recommendation asking Capital Metro to revise or study specific elements of the draft Transit Plan 2035, including further analysis of 801/803 alignments through downtown, an express airport connection timed to light‑rail service, and priority work on the Red Line.

Vice Chair Schumacher moved the commission’s recommendation during the meeting; the motion passed unanimously after successive, targeted amendments by commissioners.

The commission’s adopted recommendations include the following key points:

- Study 801/803 alignment options through 2030: the UTC asked CapMetro to continue studying whether the 801/803 local routes should pivot to an eastern downtown corridor (for example, San Jacinto east of Congress) or funnel into light‑rail service at the rail termini, and to analyze which option best serves transit‑dependent riders near North Lamar and South Congress. The commission asked staff to ensure any alignment provides short, reliable transfers for light‑rail passengers who continue onto the 801 or 803.

- Address domain/Uptown access gaps: in the northwest area the commission recommended CapMetro consider offsetting the removal of Route 466 (a former circulator) by adding or expanding neighborhood pickup or circulator service connecting residential centers to the Domain, UptownATX and major employment destinations.

- Airport link and schedule coordination: the UTC asked CapMetro to amend the 5‑ to 10‑year network to include an express airport connection from either Pleasant Valley Station or Yellowjacket Station with frequencies that match the light‑rail timetable. The commission also asked CapMetro to study eliminating duplicative local 20 service (Riverside) to help fund the express airport link, while recognizing any removal should be examined carefully against performance and equity impacts.

- Red Line and Crestview: the commission recommended continued prioritization and funding planning for grade separation at Crestview Station — an improvement CapMetro has identified as a key barrier to improved Red Line frequencies — and requested that the agency plan to operate 15‑minute peak headways on the Red Line once the needed grade separation work is completed.

- Support for Gold Line timing: commissioners amended an earlier draft to request that the Project Connect Gold Line (Republic Square to ACC Highland) be placed in the 5‑to‑10‑year network, with service begun no later than 2033.

The commission also added a recommendation asking CapMetro to work with local school districts to review bus‑route arrangements in light of school closures or consolidations that could change ridership patterns.

Commissioners debated tradeoffs between keeping local bus coverage versus prioritizing higher‑speed rail and express airport service. Chair Jill Summers and other commissioners stressed the need to preserve reliable local transfers while avoiding duplication of service that could dilute funds for higher‑capacity connections. After amendments to clarify timeframes and to add study language, the final motion passed unanimously.

The UTC directed staff to forward the recommendation to CapMetro and to ensure the commission’s comments are part of CapMetro’s reopened comment period.