CARTS announces routes for Llano County and beyond
The green buses of the Capital Area Rural Transit System, better known as CARTS, will be making their way throughout Llano County starting March 3. CARTS is replacing the Hill Country Transit District, or The HOP, as the county’s public transportation provider. File photo
Regular routes between Llano, Kingsland, Horseshoe Bay, and Marble Falls will come online March 3 when the Capital Area Rural Transit System, better known as CARTS, moves into Llano County.
CARTS is replacing the Hill Country Transit District, or The HOP, as the county’s public transportation provider. Initially, transportation will be restricted to regional trips around the Highland Lakes, including into Burnet County, but the routes could eventually lead to the Austin-metro area.
“Forty-two years ago … I was handed a study that (the Texas Department of Transportation) had done saying that Llano County should be part of CARTS,” said David Marsh, the transit system’s general manager, during a presentation to the Llano County Commissioners Court on Monday, Jan. 27. “I didn’t think it’d take this long, but here we are today.”
Marsh and CARTS Community Engagement Director Dana Platt gave a thorough breakdown of what CARTS would do for Llano County on Monday.
The transit system will start out by offering its “Country Bus service,” which will provide regular trips between Llano, Kingsland, Horseshoe Bay and Marble Falls.
With this service, riders can call ahead, giving 24-hour notice, and be picked up from their own homes, taken to a destination, and then returned home, all within certain route hours and windows.
The proposed routes are as follows:
- within the city of Llano, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., $2 one way;
- from Llano to Kingsland, Monday-Friday, departure between 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and return between noon and 3:30 p.m., $4 one way;
- from Llano to Marble Falls, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 8 a.m. departure and 3:30 p.m. return, $6 one way;
- within Kingsland, Monday-Friday, anytime between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., $2 one way;
- from Kingsland to Llano, Monday-Friday, departure between 9 a.m. and noon and return between 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., $4 one way;
- from Kingsland to Marble Falls, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, departure between 9 a.m. and noon and return between 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., $4 one way;
- from Horseshoe Bay to Marble Falls, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, departure at 9 a.m. and return at 3:30 p.m., $6 one way.
Riders will be able to schedule drop-off and pickup locations and plan their routes using the CARTS phone application or by phone at 512-478-7433.
Seniors ages 60 and older and people with disabilities may ride the Country Bus for free. Caretakers and service animals can accompany qualified passengers at no extra charge.
The Country Bus service is just one aspect of the CARTS system. If the need is determined, or community surveys indicate the service is desired, larger buses and routes could be introduced that might eventually carry passengers from the Highland Lakes area into Austin.
“Our first seven-month period, we will get a feel for the needs of the region and plan accordingly,” Marsh said. “We can’t connect you today, but we’re going to connect you before it’s over. Just give us time to work through the processes we need to.”