AUSTIN (KXAN) — Ahead of their planned launch this spring, CapMetro announced Friday it will soon begin route testing its two new MetroRapid lines that are part of the Project Connect system. The 800 Pleasant Valley and 837 Expo Center will kickstart route testing on Sunday. Those preliminary operations are set to continue until the two routes officially launch in the spring. PAST COVERAGE: CapMetro gears up for new Pickup, MetroRapid bus services in 2025 Buses will be out on roadways along the routes with "Training Bus/Not in Service" marked on their digital signs to signify they won't be accepting passengers during the testing phase. "This testing phase is an important last milestone needed to deliver an exciting transit experience for growing areas in our region," said Andy Skabowski, CapMetro's chief operating officer, in the release. "These new Rapid lines will connect communities and improve travel times through limited stops, transit signal priority, and transit priority lanes. CapMetro Rapid expansion is a key part of our mission to deliver convenient and reliable transit to all areas around Austin." CapMetro is planning an initial launch of two new MetroRapid lines in 2025: The Expo Center line and the Pleasant Valley line. (Courtesy CapMetro) CapMetro’s Pleasant Valley line (Route 800) will originally run from the Mueller area down to a temporary station at Vertex, with a future expansion to the upcoming Goodnight Ranch Park & Ride. Construction on that park and ride is ongoing, with end-of-line charging planned for electric bus vehicles. In the meantime, both the Pleasant Valley line and the upcoming Expo Center line (Route 837) will begin operating using diesel vehicles. CapMetro documents added there will be a "strategic use of battery electric buses" as available. The Expo Center line will begin at Republic Square in downtown Austin and eventually terminate at the Expo Center. However, when it initially begins service in 2025, its temporary last stop will be at Decker Lane, given work still underway on the future Expo Center Park & Ride. Both routes will begin with projected 20-minute daytime and 30-minute nighttime frequencies before pivoting to a 10-to-15-minute frequency in 2026.