Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority staff on Jan. 15 demonstrated new on-vehicle fare validators, outlined a planned switch from the agencys CapMetro app to the Transit and UMO apps, and said new tap-to-pay options and a redesigned reloadable fare card will be available when systems launch this spring. Chair Trevillion opened the public hearing in the Rosa Parks Boardroom and the board received comments but took no formal vote.

The change affects how fares are collected, not the dollar amount of fares, Capital Metro executives said. Samantha Baez, executive vice president for Experience and Engagement, said, "As part of this process, we're talking about today, our fares are not changing." She and Brandy Moller, director of revenue and fares, demonstrated faster validators that provide visual and audio acceptance signals, a handheld validator for rail conductors, and a new reloadable fare card to replace the existing AMP card.

The technology changes are intended to speed boarding and add new payment options. "This is the new technology our customers are going to be experiencing. It is, more seamless. It is faster and more reliable than what we are currently, using with our customers," Baez said. Brandy Moller stressed the addition of tap-to-pay options and related fare capping: "With the Tap to Pay comes fare capping." Staff said customers will be able to use credit and debit cards, Apple Wallet and Google Pay.

Staff described a phased transition and customer impacts. They said the agency will begin exchanging old cards next month, old validators will stop working March 1, and plastic passes must be switched out by April 1. Capital Metro will issue one-year fare cards in advance to HMIS program customers. Transit trip planning will move to the Transit app while payments will be handled through UMO; staff said an integration is planned so customers eventually need only one app, though there may be a transition period in which both are required.

On equity review, Moller summarized a Title VI analysis required because Capital Metro receives federal funds. She said the preliminary Title VI report finds no disparate impact or disproportionate burden for minority or low-income riders under the thresholds used; the final Title VI report will be delivered to the board at its Jan. 27 meeting.

Public comment focused on equity, transparency and costs. Zinobia Joseph, speaking remotely, urged the board to provide a cost-benefit analysis comparing the proposed system to making the system free, calling the public process "an exercise and futility" without fuller backup materials. Joseph said the agencys primary funding comes from a 1% sales tax and cited an Austin Monitor article on Capital Metros budget. She also told the board she was concerned about a $6,400,000 payment related to a vendor contract and asked staff to add cost information to the Jan. 27 board materials. "I would ask you to make the system free," Joseph said.

Board member Veil asked whether a customer without the app who uses a credit card could board with tap-to-pay; staff replied yes, and Moller said tap-to-pay credit-card transactions will fare-cap on a daily basis only. Staff told the board that roughly half of current trips are paid in cash and that about 1,300 customers still use the AMP card.

The public hearing closed after the comments. Staff noted next steps: begin customer card exchanges next month, deploy the validators and tap-to-pay features this spring, and provide the finalized Title VI report to the board on Jan. 27. No formal board action or vote occurred at the hearing.

A recording and the finalized Title VI report were identified for inclusion in the Jan. 27 board packet; staff also committed to operational plans for replacing physical cards and assisting vulnerable program participants with the transition.