Free CARTS Express Bus Routes Connect Georgetown, Round Rock, Bastrop and Smithville to Austin
For workers who spend their mornings watching brake lights stretch toward Austin, two new Capital Area Rural Transportation System express routes could make the weekday commute less stressful — and, for a limited time, less expensive.
CARTS is offering free rides on its new Interurban Coach Express commuter routes connecting Georgetown and Round Rock with Austin, as well as Smithville and Bastrop with the city’s downtown employment and activity centers. The service gives residents another option as construction, congestion and rising transportation costs continue to shape daily life across Central Texas.
Instead of navigating traffic alone, riders can use the trip to answer emails, read, prepare for the workday or simply take a break while someone else handles the road.
The weekday routes began operating March 2, 2026. An updated CARTS schedule dated April 8 outlines morning service into Austin and afternoon return trips, with Park & Ride access available at CARTS stations in Georgetown, Bastrop and Smithville.
CARTS Express Route 1511X Serves Georgetown and Round Rock
The 1511X Georgetown/Round Rock–Austin route begins its weekday southbound trip at Georgetown Station at 6 a.m. It is scheduled to stop at Round Rock Transit at 6:10 a.m. and Triangle Station at 6:55 a.m. before continuing through central Austin.
Scheduled Austin stops include UT West Mall at Guadalupe at 7:05 a.m., Guadalupe at Fifth Street at 7:15 a.m. and the Richard Moya Eastside Bus Plaza at 7:35 a.m. The bus then returns north, reaching Round Rock Transit at 8:10 a.m. and Georgetown Station at 8:25 a.m.
The weekday afternoon northbound trip begins at Georgetown Station at 3:45 p.m., stops at Round Rock Transit at 4 p.m. and reaches the Eastside Bus Plaza at 4:45 p.m. The route then serves Lavaca at Third Street, West Mall at Lavaca and Triangle Station before returning to Round Rock at 5:46 p.m. and Georgetown at 6:10 p.m.
For Georgetown and Round Rock residents who work near downtown Austin, the University of Texas campus or major connecting transit stops, the route may offer a practical way to avoid driving the full length of the Interstate 35 corridor.
Route 1515X Links Smithville and Bastrop With Austin
The 1515X Smithville/Bastrop–Austin route provides weekday service for commuters traveling from communities east of Austin.
The westbound morning trip leaves Smithville Station at 6:05 a.m. and Bastrop Station at 6:25 a.m. It is scheduled to reach UT West Mall at 7:38 a.m., 15th Street and Brazos at 7:43 a.m., San Jacinto Boulevard and Fifth Street at 7:48 a.m., and the Eastside Bus Plaza at 7:58 a.m.
The bus then returns east, arriving at Bastrop Station at 8:53 a.m. and Smithville Station at 9:13 a.m.
Afternoon eastbound service begins at Smithville Station at 3:30 p.m. and Bastrop Station at 3:50 p.m. before reaching the Eastside Bus Plaza at 4:45 p.m. Downtown stops include Trinity and 11th streets at 5:03 p.m., 15th Street and Brazos at 5:06 p.m., and UT West Mall at 5:11 p.m. The return trip reaches Bastrop at 6:25 p.m. and Smithville at 6:45 p.m.
CARTS notes that the published schedule shows major timepoints and that additional stops are available in downtown Austin.
Free Bus Service Supports a Regional Clean-Air Strategy
The two CARTS commuter routes are supported through the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program, a federal initiative funded by the Inflation Reduction Act.
Austin received a $1 million planning grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to work with neighboring cities, regional agencies and community members on strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and harmful air pollution. That regional effort helped produce a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan containing 27 strategies and supported the acquisition of a separate $48 million transportation grant.
The commuter bus service reflects one of the plan’s practical goals: giving people a reliable alternative to single-occupancy vehicle trips. When more commuters can share a bus rather than drive separately, the potential benefits include fewer vehicles on crowded roads, more predictable travel and lower regional transportation emissions.
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 included the nation’s largest federal investment in clean energy and climate programs. Along with transportation and emissions-reduction funding, the law included provisions related to prescription drug costs, energy-efficiency incentives, clean-energy manufacturing and federal tax policy.
For Central Texas residents, the new CARTS routes are one visible example of how that federal funding is being used at the local level.
Guaranteed Ride Home Program Offers a Backup Plan
One concern for many would-be transit riders is what happens when a family emergency, unexpected overtime or another disruption makes the normal bus trip home impractical.
The regional Guaranteed Ride Home program, administered by Movability, is designed to address that concern. Qualifying sustainable commuters may receive reimbursement of up to $75 for an unplanned ride, up to five times per calendar year, while funding remains available.
Eligible travel modes include buses, rail, carpools, vanpools, shuttles, bicycles, walking, bike-share services and scooters. Participants must track a qualifying active or shared commute through the Carbon Cred or ConnectSmart app at least once during the two weeks before the emergency.
The program covers people who live or work within Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays, Travis or Williamson counties. Qualifying circumstances may include a personal or family emergency, illness, unscheduled overtime or the unexpected loss of a commuter’s usual transportation.
Routine medical appointments, planned overtime, rides to work, transit delays and most work-related travel do not qualify. Commuters must submit a reimbursement form and receipt within 30 calendar days of the ride.
For riders considering the Georgetown, Round Rock, Bastrop or Smithville express buses, the program can provide additional reassurance that choosing public transportation does not necessarily leave them stranded when the workday changes without warning.
CARTS Has Connected Central Texas Communities Since 1978
Established in 1978, CARTS is the longest-serving public transit agency in the Austin region. The transit district serves a roughly 7,000-square-mile area covering the non-urbanized portions of Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Travis and Williamson counties.
Its buses operate from 10 transit stations in Austin, Bastrop, Cedar Creek, Elgin, Georgetown, Marble Falls, Round Rock, San Marcos, Smithville and Taylor. The stations also serve as Greyhound-FlixBus stops, helping connect smaller Central Texas communities with regional and national transportation networks.
CARTS also coordinates with CapMetro to improve connections between rural, suburban and metropolitan transit services. At the Richard Moya Eastside Bus Plaza, passengers can connect with CARTS, CapMetro and Greyhound-FlixBus service in one location.
That regional approach matters as communities such as Georgetown, Round Rock, Bastrop and Smithville continue to grow. Many residents live outside Austin but travel into the city for work, school, medical appointments and other services. Reliable public transportation can help those communities stay connected without requiring every trip to begin and end behind the wheel.
What Commuters Should Know Before Riding
The express buses operate on weekdays, and the free fare is available for a limited time. Riders should review the current schedule before traveling because stop times and service details may change.
Schedules and additional information are available through CARTS at RideCARTS.com or by calling 512-478-RIDE. Riders can also use the Transit app to plan trips and review available connections.
For Central Texas commuters tired of construction delays, parking costs and long stretches of stop-and-go traffic, the new CARTS express routes offer something increasingly valuable: another choice.
Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for updates on Central Texas transportation, road projects and commuter resources affecting local families and workers.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
