Riders and local officials tell CapMetro board they face safety, equity and service gaps

Multiple members of the public used the Sept. 22 board meeting’s public‑comment period to raise safety concerns, to ask for service restorations in Northeast Austin, and to thank staff for planned expansions to Laguna Vista (Lago Vista) pickup service.

Stephanie (no last name given), who identified herself as a daily Metro rider, described repeated incidents that left her feeling unsafe and said she was not given clear reporting options after a recent incident on the 801. She told the board: “When I spoke to a bus driver about it the following day, instead of being given any safe reporting options, I was told that I should have reported it right then and there... It left me feeling blamed instead of protected.” She described an incident of alleged indecent exposure on a crowded 801 bus and other episodes of disorder, and said such conditions jeopardized her…