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Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

ADAPT Adopt-A-Stop Unveiled Today

Posted in Uncategorized, accessibility, events, adopt-a-stop, commute community, community, tagged , , , , on May 17, 2013 | 1 Comment »

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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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Safe Passing for Austin’s Cyclists

Posted in bike by bus, bikes, safety, Uncategorized, tagged , on May 9, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

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.

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Capital Metro Named one of Central Texas’ Healthiest Employers

Posted in Capital Metro news, health, Tobacco policy, Uncategorized, wellness, tagged , , on April 17, 2013 | 5 Comments »

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.

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Capital Metro’s Got You Hooked Up This Weekend

Posted in Uncategorized on April 12, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

There’s never a dull weekend in Austin, but if you’re like me you’re always lookin’ out for deals on a dime…or dollar.

You’re in luck this weekend! We’ve got two awesome partnerships going on with Art City Austin and the Texas Rollergirls.

Texas Rollergirls Bout

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This Saturday, April 13 (doors 5 p.m.) catch the team that’s #3 in the world, as they faceoff this Saturday at the Convention Center,
Exhibit Hall 5 entrance on 4th Street. Show a valid MetroRail or MetroBus pass at the door and get $5 off!

Literally feet from the Downtown MetroRail Station, this spot is super easy to reach via any of our services!

 

The Texas Rollergirls are giving $5 off at the door to all of our 2013 bouts with a valid, current METRO PASS. Look for our ads on Austin buses & trains all over town. And look for the rollergirls to be riding with y’all… because really, there isn’t a better way to travel than on CAP METRO public transit… other than maybe on roller skates! -TXRG

Art City Austin

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April 13-14 the heart of downtown gets taken over by the Art City Austin block party and you’ve got a FREE admission by showing a valid CapMetro pass* at the front gate! ($8 value)

Stop by the fest on Cesar Chavez Street at AustinCity Hall for a celebration of art, culture and creativity with over 150 works of art by local artists. (Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.)

Catch a ride there on any downtown bus route.

*ACC green passes will also be accepted.

Get There

capitalmetro_new_vertUse our handy Trip Planner to get step-by-step instructions for getting from Point A to either of these fun events.

You gonna make it? Send us your pictures to Facebook.com/CapitalMetro or Twitter @CapMetroATX—who knows, maybe you’ll go viral!

Have a safe and fun weekend!

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Adopt-A-Stop Program Inspires Local Group to Reinvent Austin Bus Stop

Posted in Uncategorized on April 10, 2013 | 1 Comment »

Stop by the Capital Metro bus stop at Manor Road and Rogge Lane and you’re sure to do a double-take. Route 20 passengers have THE most cutting-edge stop in town thanks to an Adopt-A-Stop collaboration between GRoWERS, Green Doors and Capital Metro.

Courtesy of Green Doors

Courtesy of Green Doors

The stop is an Austin original from top to bottom. The structure itself features a unique metal art design by Stanley Studio, led by Green Doors. If that wasn’t enough, GRoWERS stepped in and did what they do best—creating a living space on the roof, complete with prickly pear and agave plants!

This project wouldn’t have been possible without some very creative minds that chose to make a difference by Adopting-A-Stop, helping keep our community beautiful and cleaner.

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You can adopt your very own stop!

If you’re inspired you can see your very own name on your favorite bus stop too—Capital Metro offers the Adopt-A-Stop program to anyone in the community!

Check out the Green Doors blog to read the full story and see more pictures of the project!

Special thanks to Capital Metro Board Member Frank Fernandez for helping facilitate this project!

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Capital Metro Revises Service Change Proposal After Public Feedback

Posted in Uncategorized on March 14, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

By Celso, Capital Metro Community Involvement Team

Capital Metro changes transit service three times each year in order to make it more efficient, convenient and reliable. We regularly review changes to infrastructure, housing and employment to determine if adjustments need to be made to make transit service work better for our community.

Service changes allow us to adjust routes, schedules, bus stop locations and facilities in order to improve overall service. Service changes also provide an opportunity to implement new services. Capital Metro’s goal is to be as efficient with its resources as possible, and we allocate service accordingly based on ridership and need.

Last week, Capital Metro invited stakeholders to several public meetings and a webinar regarding our Proposed June 2013 service changes.  We have also visited with several potentially impacted neighborhoods and passengers at bus stops and on-board buses to get feedback on the proposals.

After receiving a great deal of feedback on the Proposed June 2013 Service Changes, Capital Metro has responded by revising our initial proposal for Routes 171 and 383 in Southwest and Northwest Austin to ensure we are meeting your needs as best we can.

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Public Meeting, March 5th held at Capital Metro’s Transit Store

In response to feedback from Southwest Austin, proposed changes to Route 171 would only eliminate one neighborhood trip at 4:20 p.m., rather than three trips in the original proposal. Back in late January, Capital Metro staff surveyed customers who use Oak Hill Park & Ride Route 171. The survey findings proved to be valuable in the early developmental stages of our proposal.

Based upon feedback from riders in Northwest Austin, the revised proposal for Route 383 now includes additional bus stops at Capital of Texas and Stonelake to preserve easy access to locations in the GatewayShopping Center.

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Capital Metro Online Discussion Forum

We appreciate all the great participation and feedback we have received so far, and we encourage you to keep it coming.  Riders may still discuss individual route proposals on our online discussion forum ideas.capmetro.org/, email us at feedback@capmetro.org, or call 512-474-1200. The public is also encouraged to attend our public hearing on March 18th. See capmetro.org/june2013 for schedule details.

These proposed changes will go before the Capital Metro Board of Directors on March 25th. If approved, these changes will take effect on Sunday, June 9, 2013.

Thank you for riding Capital Metro.

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Happy Girl Scout Day – March 12

Posted in community, Rail Safety, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , on March 12, 2013 | 1 Comment »

Girl Scout Day celebrates the day the first Girl Scout group was created on March 12, 1912, when Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low assembled 18 girls from Savannah, Georgia for a local meeting. Today, Girl Scouts of the USA has a membership of over 3.2 million girls and adults.

We are especially proud of our local scouts’ role in history. Did you know the Girl Scouts of Central Texas and Capital Metro created the Girl Scouts first-ever Rail Safety Patch Program?

ImageTake a lead from the Girl Scouts and educate yourself about how to be safe around railroad tracks. Check out:

Capital Metro conducts Operation Lifesaver (OL) presentations FREE OF CHARGE to schools, community and educational organizations in the Central Texas region. To schedule a presentation, please contact Mr Celso Baez at 512-389-7559.

Have a safe and happy Girl Scout Day and Women’s History Month.

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Regional Transit System: A Thing of the Future?

Posted in All Systems Go, bus routes, Capital Metro news, community, commute community, customer service, Driving Progress, MetroRail, MetroRapid, planning, serviceplan2020, train, transit planning, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , on February 15, 2013 | 1 Comment »

Capital Metro has partnered with other transit agencies in the central Texas region, like the City of Austin, CAMPO and the Lone Star Rail District to create a plan for regional high-capacity transit.

What would that look like?

Imagine a series of components like urban rail, commuter rail (like MetroRail), Rapid service, and express lanes where all services support one another in a network, easing access throughout the region.

Sounds nice, right? Well, it looks even better. Check out this detailed vision map with all the system elements to help you share our vision for how to create a connected central Texas.

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(Download PDF version)

Now, you too can view the full details of the Project Connect transportation plan and partnership at ConnectCentralTexas.com.

But, wait there’s more!

Well, now that the vision has come together, the partners want your feedback. What do you think?

It’s your chance to share your thoughts at any of the following opportunities:

Tuesday, Feb. 19, 5 – 8 p.m. Seton Medical Center Hays (Cafeteria), 6001 Kyle Parkway, Kyle, TX.

Wednesday, Feb. 20, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Austin Energy (Assembly Room); 721 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX.

Wednesday, Feb. 20, 5 – 8 p.m. Williamson Conference Center, 209 N. IH-35 Frontage Road, Round Rock, TX.

Tuesday, Feb. 26, 12 – 1 p.m. Webinar – Register online at ConnectCentralTexas.com/get-involved.

The Project Connect partners also invite the public to participate in an ongoing online discussion regarding the regional transit vision.

Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications are provided upon request.  Please call 512-369-6201 or email info@ConnectCentralTexas.com for more information.

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Capital Metro Moved More People Than Ever in 2012

Posted in bus routes, community, Driving Progress, serviceplan2020, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , on January 31, 2013 | 1 Comment »

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We’ve crunched all the numbers for 2012, and here’s the bottom line: Capital Metro knocked it out of the park in 2012.

During 2012, we provided an average 112,000 rides each weekday—enough passengers to completely fill both the Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium and Disch-Falk Field combined.

The proof that central Texans are choosing Capital Metro as a preferred way to get around lies in our numbers–in 2012 we provided over 34 million boardings–more trips than the population of Texas!

Across the nation, more people are turning to public transit as the preferred transportation choice, but Capital Metro’s growth rate far exceeds the national trend. Here at home, our fixed-route bus ridership is boasting a 22-month growth streak, and MetroRail ridership has tripled in two years.

See the growth in our bus ridership for yourself–2011 compared to 2012 below:

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2012 was a big year for MetroRail too! We’ve got more people riding the rails every single day with an average 2,200 boardings each weekend.

In 2012, MetroRail hit a milestone of its one millionth passenger trip, and ridership increased nearly 50 percent in 2012 over 2011.

Rail’s popular! See the ridership spike:

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Capital Metro made progress in 2012 by analyzing service and making changes towards creating a more efficient system.

Going into 2013, we’re excited to keep  driving progress by working hard at planning for the region’s future with high-capacity transit solutions, like MetroRapid, that will move more people at less cost and with less impact to the environment.

We are also focused on the regional planning effort, Project Connect, that has developed a high-capacity transit vision to keep all of us in Central Texas moving and connected.

How are we driving progress? Check out this super sweet video that breaks it down:

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Ride With Us So You Can March — MLK Day Mon, Jan 21

Posted in community, commute community, events, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , on January 18, 2013 | 4 Comments »

Ride with us to the March and celebrate the legacy of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr while highlighting and uplifting diversity and multiculturalism in our city at the Austin Area Heritage Council’s 20th Annual Citywide Martin Luther King, Jr Community March & Rally on Monday, January 21, 2013.

The #2 bus (Rosewood) will run every 15 minutes until 4pm.

9:00 am March begins at the MLK Statue on the University of Texas

10:00 am – 10:45 am MLK Program at the State Capital; March continues

11:00 am – 4:00 pm March ends; Festival begins at Huston-Tillotson University
(Be sure to visit the Capital Metro booth!)

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Routes 2, 4, 18, 21/22 will get you to and from the MLK March & Rally and Celebration (including back to the parking garages near UT, H-T, and the State Capitol).

Regular fares apply. (Single Ride $1, Day Pass $2.00. Reduced Fare: Single Ride $.50, Day Pass $1. Children five and under with an accompanying adult, and emergency and military personnel in uniform ride Capital Metro bus and rail services at no charge.) Use Capital Metro’s online trip planner http://www.capmetro.org/planner/ or call the Go-Line at 512-474-1200 for information about routes and schedules.

Rider Alert:

Capital Metro will operate its Saturday bus schedule in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. There will be no MetroRail, UT Shuttle or E-Bus service.

MetroAccess customers needing to keep their subscription trips on Jan. 21 will need to call (512) 478-9647 to schedule them. The reservation line will be staffed on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Capital Metro administrative offices and the Transit Store will be closed Jan. 21; however the GO Line will be staffed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and customers will still have 24-hour access to the automated phone line and online trip planner.

For more information on the Martin Lither King, Jr celebration activities, visit http://www.mlkcelebration.com/

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