Getting Around Austin: A Transportation Guide

The excellent public transport system in Austin provides cheap public buses and vans that cover all neighbourhoods, downtown and the university campus for a flat fare. Transfers between buses are free and valid for three hours. The Armadillo Express, known as 'the Dillo', provides free trolley rides through the historic downtown area. There is also a free Yellow Bike Program that makes bicycles available to the public - yellow bikes can be picked up anywhere, ridden to one's destination and then left for the next rider. Taxis can be expensive and are best ordered by phone, although they are on hand outside most downtown hotels. Driving in Austin can be very confusing, with a lack of clear east-west routes through the city centre and the fact that locals tend to refer to highways by unofficial names. The city centre can become congested at rush hour.

Central Austin is bracketed by Interstate 35 to the east and the Mopac Expressway to the west. U.S. Highway 183 runs from northwest to southeast, and State Highway 71 crosses southern part of the city from east to west, completing a rough "box" around the central and north-central city. Austin is the largest major city to be served by only one Interstate Highway.

Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Capital Metro) provides public transportation to the city, primarily by bus. Capital Metro is building a commuter rail system that is scheduled for completion in 2008. The system will be built on existing freight rail lines and will serve downtown Austin, East Austin, Northwest Austin, and Leander in its first phase. An Amtrak Texas Eagle station is located west of downtown. Segments of the Amtrak route between Austin and San Antonio are being evaluated for a future passenger rail corridor as an alternative to the traffic congestion of Interstate 35.