Transportation

Ways to Get Around

• Public Transit through CapMetro

• Bike

• ZipCar

Transportation FAQ

• IS THE TRAFFIC REALLY AS BAD AS PEOPLE SAY IT IS?

The short answer is yes, and the long answer is …also yes. The main artery connecting the northern and southern halves of the city is IH-35. During rush hour (7-9am and 4-7pm), IH-35 and Loop 1 (Mopac) are incredibly congested. Using frontage roads and city streets can help alleviate the pain of driving long stretches on the major highways during peak hours. But beware: traffic can even accumulate at off-peak hours, such as lunchtime or after 8pm on weekends, so it’s best to always leave room in your travels for unexpected highway closures, accidents, or brunch traffic.

• HOW’S THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM?

While bus routes cover most areas of the city, they can run 20-30 minutes late at times. The city recently unveiled MetroRapid service which runs every 10 minutes during peak hours and offers free Wi-Fi. For a mid-sized city, Austin has a relatively comprehensive transportation system; there are taxis, Express buses, UT Shuttles, and Night Buses.