Old train depot in Marble Falls to be hub for CARTS buses and vans
CONNIE SWINNEY • PICAYUNE STAFF
MARBLE FALLS — Officials with a rural transportation service called CARTS will breathe new life into an old train depot building as they continue to provide a way for rural residents to travel to local appointments and regional destinations.
CARTS, which stands for Capital Area Rural Transit System, has struck a deal with the city of Marble Falls to use the old train depot on U.S. 281 as a hub for their buses and vans known in the Highland Lakes for primarily catering to disabled and elderly clientele.
“The building is significant to our history as well, so being that it was the old train depot originally, it’s going to be serving a similar function,” said Marble Falls Parks and Recreation Director Robert Moss. “The whole arrangement makes use of that facility while it keeps it maintained and in relatively good shape.”
Constructed in 1893, the building was moved from its original location adjacent to the city’s rail lines to its current one on U.S. 281 just off RR 1431 in 1976.
The facility had served as the town’s visitors center until March 2013.
The state-funded CARTS agency entered into a two-year inter-local agreement with the city and is expected to pay about $500 a month to park and dispatch vehicles from the location as well as maintain the building.
“Part of the agreement is that they would, at their expense, modify the building to be ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant,” Moss said. “They will be paying the lease payment as well as taking care of utilities that are not city owned. We’ll be providing city-owned utilities.”
CARTS has hubs in other communities outside of Austin including Bastrop, Round Rock, San Marcos and Smithville.
Fares range from $2 to $6 depending on distance of travel with some routes taking customers from the Blanco, Burnet and Marble Falls areas to hospitals and other facilities in the Austin area.
Prior to the agreement to lease the old depot building, CARTS drivers primarily coordinated pickups and dropoffs in public parking lots.
“You would see them parked at various locations. One of their pickup areas was outside of city hall,” Moss said. “You would see them there, or, otherwise, they would just park around the community.”
CARTS is expected to begin upgrades on the building in anticipation of a March 1 grand opening. Moss said other potential features will include a freight service.
To find out more about the CARTS schedules, call toll free at 1-800-456-RIDE (7433) or go to www.ridecarts.com.
connie@thepicayune.com