CapMetro is free today. In May the council asked about free rides during early voting too

Every CapMetro ride is free today, Nov. 3. The fare holiday covers buses, rail, CapMetro Access, Pickup and the bikeshare system, and riders do not have to be headed to a polling place, CultureMap Austin reported. For bikeshare, riders choose the "I Voted!" pass for 60 free minutes, according to the city's Nov. 2 mobility newsletter. CultureMap reported that the bikeshare system places a temporary $24 hold on a card, refunded if the bike is returned within the hour.

For residents without a car, or anyone who would rather not hunt for parking near a busy polling place, that means a free trip to any of the county's vote centers before polls close at 7 p.m.

Why today, and not the early voting days

CapMetro already suspends fares on Election Day in even-numbered years, Community Impact reported in June. Early voting, which ran Oct. 19 to Oct. 30 and drew more than 427,000 Travis County voters, had no fare holiday that we could find.

That was not for lack of interest at City Hall. Here is what our records show.

What our records add

The May resolution. On May 28 the council approved a resolution directing the city manager to work with CapMetro and Travis County on the cost, possible cost sharing and feasibility of fare-free voting on Election Day 2026, and of expanding it to early voting days. It passed 9-0 on consent, with Council Members Natasha Harper-Madison and Vanessa Fuentes absent. Council Member Mike Siegel was the lead sponsor, joined by Harper-Madison, Paige Ellis and Zohaib "Zo" Qadri.

From the dais, Siegel said the idea came from the city's African American Resource Advisory Commission and was meant to have staff study the costs and effectiveness, talk to CapMetro, and talk to county officials, some of whom he said were interested in sharing the cost. He said he wanted to do "everything we can to improve access to the polls."

The August budget amendment. On Aug. 6, during budget amendments, Siegel proposed moving $75,000 to CapMetro, one time, to pay for one day of fare-free service during early voting. He said it would cover the highest-turnout day of early voting, built on a July 31 staff memo, and that he hoped county officials would match it to add a second day.

We could not find a record in our data showing that amendment was adopted, and we found no announcement from CapMetro or the city of a fare-free early voting day this fall. If you know otherwise, tell us.

What it might cost. CapMetro typically brings in $50,000 to $75,000 in fares on an average day, Community Impact reported in June. The agency said then that any added fare-free days would need review and a vote by its board of directors. A CapMetro spokesperson told the outlet that fare holidays on the highest-turnout days can simplify operations and widen access, but that fiscal responsibility was "paramount" because sales tax revenue had come in lower than expected.

Who decides

CapMetro is a regional transit authority with its own board, so the council can ask and can offer money, but it cannot set fares. Travis County runs the election itself. Any early voting fare holiday would take agreement from both, plus a funding source.

What's next

• Today: Free rides on every CapMetro service until the end of the service day. Polls close at 7 p.m.
• Next election cycle: The May resolution asked for a look at early voting days in general. Watch for a staff memo or a CapMetro board item before the next major election. Texas holds statewide primaries in March 2028.
• Questions: CapMetro's customer line is listed on capmetro.org.