Mueller resident urges CapMetro to add van fare assistance and reroute Route 335

At the Capital Metro Board's public-comment period, Sherry Taylor, a resident who identified herself as a 100% disabled veteran and a newly elected Austin Community College trustee, urged the agency to consider fare media for MetroAccess paratransit riders and to reroute local service to better serve the Mueller neighborhood.

"Please go back and look at issuing book tickets for people who ride the vans," Taylor said, referring to riders who use MetroAccess curb-to-curb service and who she said do not benefit from the fixed-route free-pass program the agency has used for buses. She told the board that MetroAccess riders often cannot wait outdoors or travel between stops and need direct curb-to-curb service to reach medical appointments and other destinations.

Taylor also urged a reconfiguration of Route 335 and of a local "blue bus" that currently travels down Berkman. She said the bus now sits idle for long periods at Mueller and suggested moving the blue bus to Tilley (referred to in the comment as "Tilly") so it could serve additional streets in Mueller and better serve children and parents traveling to Marshall. "If you put the blue bus going down Tilly, it can service the children and parents we're trying to go to Marshall," she said.

The board chair thanked Taylor and said staff would forward the request to the appropriate personnel for review. Board Member Vela offered congratulations to Taylor on her recent election to the ACC board of trustees during the meeting's remarks.