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Capital Metro bus drivers and mechanics show their skill in national competition

May 21, 2013 by Erica

On May 20, the Capital Metro board of directors and President/CEO Linda Watson recognized bus operators and mechanics who represented Capital Metro at the local, state and international roadeo events.

On May 20, the Capital Metro board of directors and President/CEO Linda Watson recognized bus operators and mechanics who represented Capital Metro at the local, state and international roadeo events.

Yesterday, the Capital Metro board recognized the bus operators and mechanics who competed at the local, state and national Bus Roadeo competitions this spring.

A handful of the 1,000+ bus operators and mechanics who drive and service Capital Metro buses represented Capital Metro and the State of Texas at the International Bus Roadeo on May 5, in Indianapolis, Indiana.  McDonald bus operators Arthur “Ace” Murillo and Abdelkader Tenouri placed 5th and 6th, respectively, in the 35-Foot Bus division, and Porfirio “Pistol Pete” Rivera was 21st out of 50 competitors in the 40-Foot Bus division.

McDonald maintenance team Jaime Ayala, John Proske and Gary Robledo placed 10th in the Maintenance division. They were the only team to receive a perfect score in one of the challenge events.

Bus operators Arthur Murillo, Pete Rivera and Abdel Tenouri enjoy the 2013 International Bus Roadeo in Indianapolis.

Bus operators Arthur Murillo, Pete Rivera and Abdel Tenouri enjoy the 2013 International Bus Roadeo in Indianapolis.

Murillo has won the international event four times, and Tenouri also has an international title under his belt.

Congrats to all of these very skilled competitors! And there’s one more competitor to watch this season: MetroAccess Van Operator Ted Ward will compete in the National Community Transit Roadeo on June 2.

Browse photos from the 2013 Texas State Roadeo

Posted in Uncategorized, bus roadeo, Bus Operators | Tagged , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Introducing the Haul Pass: New Fare Card for Students

May 21, 2013 by Simone

Haul Pass logo

The countdown has begun. School’s almost out. Parent and teens, it’s time to get ready for summer.

Whether it’s time for volunteering, working summer jobs,  internships, taking summer courses; or it’s time for play–attending summer camp, participating in recreational sports or arts activities; or it’s time to chill–with a dip in the pool, relaxing with a good book, grabbing a bite to eat and hanging out with friends and family–Capital Metro can help get you to the places you want and need to go.

Let us introduce you to the Haul Pass, our new summer fare card for students 18 and under.

Front of Hall Pass fare card

Haul Pass Features:

  • UNLIMITED Bus & Rail rides
  • 1 pass lasts three summer months
  • Go Local discounts
  • Valid June 1 – August 31
  • A great value at $45 (for a $96 fare card)
Limited quantity sold for a limited time only, so get them while they last!
The Haul Pass is available online at www.capmetro.org/haulpass or at the Transit Store, 323 Congress Avenue.

Posted in MetroRail, fares, transit savings | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

ADAPT Adopt-A-Stop Unveiled Today

May 17, 2013 by Melissa

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Earlier today Capital Metro staff joined members of ADAPT in unveiling two newly adopted bus stops outside of the ADAPT offices, located at East 2nd and Chalmers.

ADAPT members kicked off the ribbon cutting ceremony by picking up litter in the area along Route 320. Members then officially adopted their stops with a ceremonial ribbon tearing.

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At the ceremony ADAPT Community Advocate and H.A.N.D. Board Member Nancy Crowther said, “We are excited to be representing the community because it’s very important to us, with accessible transportation. We also care about our community, that’s why we’re cleaning it up at our bus stop.”

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Posted in accessibility, adopt-a-stop, community, commute community, events, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment »

Capital Metro’s Community Leaders

May 13, 2013 by Guest Blogger

Capital Metro is excited to share that two of our very own have helped United Way for Greater Austin re-launch the Young Leaders Society, a diverse group of young professionals under 40 who give or raise $1,000 annually to support UWATX!

Juan Wah and Celso Baez from our Community Involvement team have joined YLS as founding committee members and both serve as Welcome Chair and Communications Chair, respectively. You may know them better as the dancing peas and carrots during Stuff the Bus last year.

J&CYLS members are committed to helping students in the critical middle school years by volunteering their time, raising money and spreading the word about UWATX’s Target Graduation program. Meet other friendly faces behind the new Young Leaders Society here.

YLS

For a few months, the Founding Committee has been getting a jump start by volunteering time with students in UWATX Target Graduation – a program focused on keeping middle school students on the path to graduation. YLS members engage with students at Webb, Decker and Mendez Middle Schools learning to be volunteer leaders and are encouraged to leverage their networks to mobilize more supporters for the Target Graduation program. Whether it is a campus clean-up, a tutoring session, or a mentoring opportunity, YLS members seek to inspire and shape new leaders in Greater Austin. Through various professional development and fun networking opportunities, the Founding Committee is working to expand YLS and work with other young leaders in the Greater Austin area.

Juan and Celso are passionate individuals who care about the greater Austin community and are thrilled to represent Capital Metro. Within our service area, Juan is the Capital Metro liaison to Austin’s north and north central communities and Celso is the liaison to Austin’s east, southeast, and south-central communities.  Both Juan and Celso are eager to spearhead more corporate community involvement efforts on behalf of the authority.  Together with their fellow YLS committee members they look forward to meeting other dynamic professionals interested in the way young leaders see philanthropy.

Posted in community | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

Safe Passing for Austin’s Cyclists

May 9, 2013 by Melissa

Capital Metro has partnered with the Austin Police Department, The City of Austin and BeKindtoCyclists.org this month to promote bicycle safety during National Bike Month.

We’re sharing this bike safety video with our bus operators. Take a look below and keep these tips in mind for those (rare) occasions when you drive versus taking Capital Metro.

Commuting cyclist? Check out our bike+transit safety tips:

  • Always approach the bus from the curb. Never ride around to the front of a bus from the street side.
  • Please don’t wait in the street with your bike as the bus approaches.
  • Before stepping in front of the bus to load your bike, make eye contact with the bus operator.
  • Always load and unload your bicycle directly in front of the bus, or from the curb.
  • After unloading your bike, never cross in front of the bus! Wait until it has left the stop.

Posted in bike by bus, bikes, safety, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

AAAHCT Helps Riders Stop Smoking During National Volunteer Week April 21-27, 2013

April 23, 2013 by Simone

April 21-27, 2013 is National Volunteer Week.

AAAHCT Logo

As a part of their “Living Healthy on the Eastside” campaign, volunteer members of the Alliance for African American Health in Central Texas (AAAHCT) are on a mission to help Austinites stop smoking.

This week they’ll be hitting the streets, along with our MetroAmbassadors, walking and talking with riders at Capital Metro bus stops in East Austin and handing out free smoking cessation information brochures.

Want to know more about the Alliance or their Living Healthy campaign? Check out their blog http://www.atxeastsidehealthnet.blogspot.com/ or follow them on Twitter @AAAHCT

They’d also like to hear from you:

What’s your status?

  1. I will never start smoking.
  2. I do smoke, but have made up my mind  to quit.
  3. I have quit and there is no turning back.
  4. I am encouraging someone I love to quit.

To respond TEXT atxnotobacco with a space and then your response (1, 2, 3 or 4) to 84444 (text charges may apply).  For example, if you’ve never smoked, text the phrase “atxnotobacco 1″ as your message to the number 84444.

Did you know that all Capital Metro facilities, bus stops, stations and properties are 100% smoke free?

The passenger boarding areas of Capital Metro transit centers, train stations and Park & Rides are tobacco-free. Please observe the signs that designate these areas as tobacco-free.

In addition, Capital Metro proactively discourages tobacco use within 15 feet of every bus stop for the health and safety of all riders waiting for the bus. Kindly do not use tobacco within 15 feet of your bus stop.

Capital Metro enacted tobacco-free policies at its facilities because it believes that ensuring a healthy work and traveling environment is key to providing quality, state-of-the-art transit services.

For more information on Capital Metro’s tobacco polices (including FAQs and free smoking cessation resources) visit our website at http://www.capmetro.org/rules/.

Want AAAHCT’s brochure? You can download and print your own copy here for free:

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Posted in community, health, Tobacco policy, wellness | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Capital Metro Named one of Central Texas’ Healthiest Employers

April 17, 2013 by Erica

Capital Metro was recognized at an ABJ event in March for our employee wellness initiatives. From L to R: Wellness Program Manager Tim Kelly, Humana Market Practice Leader Tom Silliman, Capital Metro Risk Manager Mike Nyren, and Capital Metro Chief of Staff Gerardo Castillo.

Capital Metro was recognized at an ABJ event in March for our employee wellness initiatives. From L to R: Wellness Program Manager Tim Kelly, Humana Market Practice Leader Tom Silliman, Capital Metro Risk Manager Mike Nyren, and Capital Metro Chief of Staff Gerardo Castillo.

Capital Metro remains one of Central Texas’ healthiest employers. Our employee wellness initiatives were recognized in March at an event hosted by the Austin Business Journal and sponsored by Central Health, Humana, RunTex and the Mayor’s Health & Fitness Council.

You’ve heard us talk before about our award-winning wellness program. The program began in 2003 and has been successful in curbing the escalating healthcare costs all companies have faced over time. In fact, for every dollar invested in our wellness program, Capital Metro gets a return on investment of about $2.43 in healthcare savings and a reduction in employee absenteeism.

Some of the elements of the program include four 24-hour onsite wellness centers, free personal training, free nutrition counseling with a registered dietitian  onsite weight loss and tobacco-cessation classes, healthy cafeteria, and a bike loan program, just to name a few. Our Wellness team maintains a public facebook page, and it’s a great resource for healthy recipes, exercises and inspiration. Check it out.

In January, Capital Metro completed its move to becoming 100% tobacco free. Also new: Capital Metro now extends its nutrition counseling and workout classes to employees’ household members, too.

If all of this sounds great to you, perhaps you’d like to join the Capital Metro team? Check out our job board for administrative jobs at Capital Metro. If you’re interested in working for one of our service providers as a bus operator or mechanic, Check out the “Jobs with our Contractors” section on the Contact Us webpage.

Posted in Capital Metro news, health, Tobacco policy, Uncategorized, wellness | Tagged , , | 5 Comments »

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