Category: wellness

Fresh air

On By AdamIn Tobacco policy, wellness2 Comments

Ahh, take a deep breath and get a whiff of that tobacco-free air! It’s been almost a year since we kicked-off the first phase of our tobacco-free facilities policy, and the accolades are rolling in.

Risk Manager Mike Nyren accepts the Secondhand Smoke award

Last month Capital Metro Risk Manager Mike Nyren received the Secondhand Smoke Award at the 2011 Texas Teen Tobacco Summit & Comprehensive Tobacco Prevention Conference. The event is a joint  effort between The Texas Department of State Health Services and the Texas School Safety Center. The award recognizes Capital Metro “for tireless commitment and major contributions to the field of tobacco prevention and control and to the citizens of Texas. Through your diligence and hard work, Texas children, families and communities will be stronger, healthier and tobacco-free.” (See photos from the conference on Facebook.)

Here’s a refresher on how the policy works.  The bus and train passenger loading areas and other common gathering areas at the following Capital Metro-owned transit centers and park & rides are tobacco-free zones: Continue reading “Fresh air” →

Tobacco Policy Survey

On By capitalmetrojamesIn Capital Metro news, health, Uncategorized, wellness12 Comments

Capital Metro wants you to give us feedback and your thoughts on whether or not we should make the boarding areas of transit facilities including MetroRail stations, transit centers, and park & rides tobacco free. We are taking public comment through this survey.  The survey will be available June 28 through July 11. It takes about two minutes to complete.

 The results of the survey will be given to the Board of Directors at their July 26 meeting when they consider adopting the policy.

Continue reading “Tobacco Policy Survey” →

Capital Metro is a healthy place to work

On By CapMetro WebmasterIn Capital Metro news, employer of choice, wellness1 Comment
Capital Metro is inducted into the Mayor's Fitness Council. From Left: MetroAccess driver Raydell Loggins, Risk Manager Mike Nyren, Mayor Lee Leffingwell, HR Director Donna Simmons, Mayor's Fitness Council Vice-Chair Lou Earle, and Bus Operator Terry Walker.

At the Austin City Council meeting on June 10, Capital Metro was recognized for our comprehensive employee wellness program when we became a certified partner in the Mayor’s Fitness Council.

Being a member of the Mayor’s Fitness Council is a big deal. Certified partners must meet and adhere to four pillars of health: physical activity, nutrition, healthy weight and tobacco-free living. Capital Metro has demonstrated accomplishments in all areas.

Raydell Loggins, a MetroAccess driver, and Terry Walker, a bus operator, were in the contingent of Capital Metro staff who attended the city council meeting to accept the certification. Both women have improved their health by making use of  our wellness benefits, such as a 24-hour gym and personal trainers, a nutritionist, on-site personal trainers, health screenings, tobacco cessation resources, Weight Watchers groups, and workshops covering a variety of health topics. Continue reading “Capital Metro is a healthy place to work” →

Texas! Bringing Healthy Back

On By CapMetro WebmasterIn environment, health, wellnessLeave a comment

Capital Metro’s healthy cafeteria is featured in a new video campaign from the Texas Department of State Health Services about preventing obesity. Here’s the excerpt that highlights Capital Metro.


Capital Metro was selected for the video because of our award-winning workplace wellness program that is fostering healthy lifestyles among our employees. Fox 7 News aired a story about our wellness program in June.

The Texas! Bringing Healthy Back video is part of a new obesity prevention campaign sponsored by the Texas Department of State Health Services. According to the Texas! Bringing Healthy Back Web site, one in three Texans is obese.

Incidentally, riding public transportation can be a part of a healthy routine, since it generally goes hand in hand with walking and bicycling (and makes you feel good about saving money and the environment).