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CapMetro proposes $625.2 million FY2026 budget with new stop and station investments
Summary
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority staff presented a structurally balanced $625.2 million proposed FY2026 operating and capital budget that preserves reserves and funds bus-stop upgrades, neighborhood on-demand pickup zones and contributions to Project Connect; the board will vote Sept. 22.
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CapMetro) staff on Sept. 10 presented a proposed fiscal year 2026 operating and capital budget totaling $625,200,000 and said it is structurally balanced and meets reserve requirements.
The budget “takes into account the priorities that you as a board have set for the agency and makes investments based on your guidance and our strategic plan,” Kevin Conlon, CapMetro chief financial officer, told the public hearing in the Rosa Parks Boardroom. He told the board the budget will be on the full board agenda for a vote Sept. 22.
The proposal funds next-year operations and capital projects while setting aside statutory obligations. “Our agency’s total operating and capital expenses of $625,200,000 to provide transit service” includes projected capital and statutory commitments that Conlon said total $308,200,000 by the end of FY2026, and he said the agency expects to meet all reserve requirements under the proposed plan.
Key items highlighted by Conlon include a $22,800,000 commitment over five years for bus-stop improvements and infrastructure, $15,900,000 budgeted in FY2026 for 12 neighborhood on-demand pickup zones, and a $34,400,000 allocation over two years in the capital improvement plan for a new North Burnett Uptown rail station. The budget also includes just over $131,000,000 over five years for a north demand-response facility and an administration building expansion at 3100 (address as stated by staff).
Conlon also said CapMetro continues to support Project Connect and that the FY2026 budget includes a $21,900,000 contribution to the Project Connect program sequence plan. He cautioned the board that the agency remains “guarded” because of a downturn in sales tax receipts and other financial uncertainty even while he described the agency’s financial position as generally strong.
Conlon said staff completed public outreach, posted a bilingual webinar and published the budget document on CapMetro’s website.
Board Vice Chair Paige Ellis opened the public hearing and invited questions; the presentation was followed by public-comment speakers who raised safety and service concerns. The board will consider the proposed FY2026 budget at its full-board meeting on Sept. 22.
The presentation and supporting materials, including the budget document and webinar, are available on CapMetro’s website, according to staff comments at the hearing.
