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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.

While some individuals are interested in working on personal goals and mental health in a traditional talk therapy environment, there are additional options for those looking for a different way to work on intrapersonal goals. This list is not comprehensive.

Community Art Therapy
Type of therapies offered: Art therapy, trauma-informed therapy, somatic and expressive arts approaches, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, play-based interventions and art therapy process groups
11402 Joy St., Austin; 12741 Research Blvd., Ste. 402, Austin; 8700 Menchaca Road, Ste. 202, Austin

Open My World Therapeutic Riding Center
Type of therapy offered: adaptive horseback riding, horse powered reading, H.A.P.Y. (“Hug A Pony”) mobile program, bringing mini horses to autism, memory care and hospice centers
5300 CR 279, Leander

Sound for Stress
Type of therapy offered: sound healing experiences
Classes vary in locations across Round Rock and Austin