CapMetro officials announced that the contactless payment option, tap to pay, is available on all bus services as of Feb. 1.

The details: According to the agency, customers can now tap their contactless debit or credit card or mobile wallet, such as Apple Pay or Google Pay, directly on the onboard fare validators to pay for rides. The service accepts most major credit card companies and banks, with the exception of American Express. 

Customers who use tap to pay will also have daily fare caps, meaning riders will never pay more than $2.50 in one day when using the same credit card or mobile wallet.

Officials also said CapMetro completed a system update to implement the new service, so existing Umo customers will need to re-enter payment details. Customers who add cash to the app or on a reloadable card will not be affected.

Something to note: Customers who qualify for discounted fares must continue to pay with their reduced fare ID, the Umo app, or the reloadable fare card linked to their Umo account.

City officials are looking to crack down on excessive vehicle noise and unsafe driving, particularly along west Austin's RM 2222 corridor where reports of complaints and safety issues have been surging for years.

The details: A new city ordinance could be enacted this spring to address what officials deem to be unreasonable engine noise, caused either by intentional actions or faulty equipment. The policy would target vehicle noise above 85 decibels, and would apply only after potential offenders receive an initial warning from law enforcement officials. Violations would be Class C misdemeanors like speeding or vehicle registration infractions.

Quote of note: "This is reckless driving, it’s noise, it’s racing—which to my understanding is a felony. And these are all things we can't enforce well right now. And my hope is that this tool and the other things we’re working to implement can get us there," said council member Marc Duchen, who represents west Austin, including affected neighborhoods near RM 2222.

Samsung Austin Semiconductor celebrated its 30th anniversary Feb. 2, an official with the company confirmed.

Samsung came to Austin and began planning for its semiconductor manufacturing facility off Parmer Lane in 1996.

The history: Over the last 30 years, Samsung Austin Semiconductor has opened two fabrication units at its Austin campus. Construction on the first was finished in July 1997, followed by the second in 2007, according to a timeline on the company’s website.

The site has evolved throughout the years to produce more advanced semiconductor technology, the timeline shows.

In 2024, Samsung Austin Semiconductor contributed $19.8 billion in economic impact to the greater Central Texas area, according to data from the company. This includes operations of the Austin fabrication units and construction of the Taylor manufacturing facility.

What else?: Samsung Austin Semiconductor moved employees into the office building at its new Taylor campus in November.

The fabrication facility in Taylor will be operational by the end of 2026, according to previous Community Impact reporting.

• 12100 Samsung Blvd., Austin; 1530 FM 973, Taylor