(Credit: KLBJ Staff)
On Thursday, the Austin City Council will decide on a resolution to form a working group which will be tasked with coming up with incentives for private businesses that get their employees to ride public transportation to work. Calling it an issue of affordability and mobility, the council believes it can find ways to use the private sector to increase ridership through Capital Metro.
Council member Delia Garza is taking some inspiration from what she once saw while riding public transportation in Atlants.
“Other cities have used your transit card; you can show it to retailers and retailers will give you a discount,” said Garza at Tuesday’s work session.
Council member Jimmy Flannigan sees the idea as a way to morph private sector employee schedules into something that is built around Capital Metro routes.
“Also an opportunity for employers to do schedules that align better with transit routes, or being more flexible if the bus is late and not punishing the employee,” Flannigan said.
The incentives may not be exclusive to the private sector, however. Garza is also wanting to incentivize water and electric customers.
“If somebody can show proof that they’re riding the bus 15 days out of 30 days, could they maybe get some kind of rebate on their utility bill?” Garza asked.
