Featuring an eye-catching design with bold colors and lines meant to illustrate strength, the CapMetro Women’s History Month bus is hard to miss.

Austin graphic artist Angel Ortega of Garzig Designs designed the rolling piece of artwork, which she calls “Las Mujeres Fuertes” or “Strong Women.” Among the strong women featured on the bus are slain Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla Pérez, tennis ace Serena Williams and, of course, Ortega’s own mother.

Ortega was tapped for the project through the CapMetro Art program, which features the work of local artists on buses, as well as at some bus and rail stations.

“I applied for the CapMetro project because I loved that it relied so much on community feedback,” Ortega said. “As a graphic designer, I am comfortable taking feedback and turning it from concept to completion. In all it took about two months of emails, sketches, reviews, feedback and throwing in an ice storm during a print deadline. That really made this project one that I’ll never forget.”

Ortega, who often spends her time working with young artists, credits her public school art teachers for helping her learn and grow as an artist from an early age. Later in life, she took graphic design courses at Austin Community College.

“I teach with the MexicArte Museum’s Screen-It program,” she said. “I visit East Austin schools, second grade through 12th grade, and I teach students how to screen print. I love to see the students’ creativity and to help them make their designs into a screenprint T-shirt. My goal is to show them that you can make a career from your art and have fun doing it.”

When Central Texans spot the Women’s History Month bus throughout March, Ortega says her goal is for them to feel “pure joy.”

“I have been getting tagged on posts and reels on social media and everyone’s so happy to see my work roaming the streets of Austin,” she said. “I have been creating art for a long time, so it feels amazing to be recognized and to get all the virtual high-fives. I joke with my friends and say I’m low-key Austin famous now.”

The Women’s History Month bus follows last month’s Black History Month bus. Look for more specially wrapped buses throughout the year.

“It was inspiring to work with Angel to create this impactful bus wrap,” said CapMetro Community Engagement Coordinator Kelsey Lammy, who helps oversee the CapMetro Art program. “As a woman myself, it was powerful to see Angel depict her mother on the wrap as my mom is also my biggest inspiration in life. And to see the women on the bus surrounded by these beautiful flowers is so powerful. Flowers are so resilient; they withstand rain and storms and continue to bloom every year, just like women.” 

Welcome back to #MeetCapMetroMonday, the series that introduces you to members of our team who work daily to keep Central Texans connected. Up this week: CEO Dottie Watkins.

When she hopped behind the wheel of a University of Texas shuttle bus back in 1994, Dottie Watkins never could have imagined she’d still be with CapMetro nearly three decades later.

In January, Watkins was permanently named CEO after spending several months in the role on an interim basis. After a nationwide search, members of the CapMetro Board of Directors said that, in their opinion, no one else came close to matching Watkins’ knowledge and experience.

That knowledge and experience will be crucial in the coming months and years as CapMetro embarks upon a number of high-profile projects, including the new McKalla Station, which will drop Red Line riders just steps from the entrance to Q2 Stadium, home of Austin FC.

One of the primary reasons Watkins, a lifelong Austinite, joined CapMetro while pursuing degrees in social work from UT and business from St. Edward’s was because of encouragement from her father, who spent many years in the agency’s Vehicle Maintenance Department. She liked it so much, she stuck around, holding a variety of positions before attaining the CEO role.

Interested in joining the CapMetro family? Check out our careers page: capmetro.org/jobs.

Your eyes weren’t deceiving you.

That was, indeed, a vintage CapMetro bus featured on a recent episode of HBO’s latest hit show, “The Last Of Us.”

We were so surprised we may have even thrown our popcorn into the air out of sheer excitement.

For those of you who haven’t discovered “The Last Of Us” yet, it’s a post-apocalyptic drama based off of a 2013 video game with the same name – and it’s getting A LOT of buzz. It looks at life 20 years after a widespread fungal infection turns people into zombies, causing society to descend into chaos.

The premiere of “The Last Of Us” had an initial 4.7 million viewers, according to Deadline. For comparison’s sake, the debut of 2010’s mega-hit “Boardwalk Empire” drew 4.81 million set of eyes. Last year’s “House of the Dragon” is the only show in HBO history to top them both, Deadline says.

Variety reports that “The Last Of Us” has already received the green light for a second season.

While Austin is the hometown for Joel (Pedro Pascal), one of the show’s main characters, the series was actually filmed in Alberta, Canada. Canada is popular with many producers because of its generous film credits.

We shared images of the bus with members of our CapMetro Vehicle Maintenance Department to see just how accurate the depiction really is. The scene is set in 2003, when the CapMetro fleet looked very different than it does today. (We also weren’t going by CapMetro at the time, still using the Capital Metro name and related branding.)

Here we go …

Exterior

This external livery was on most of our buses in 2003, but this particular vehicle would have not been one of them, according to our team.

In 2003, we had just purchased 34 New Flyer buses, units 2001-2034. The bus unit shown on TV (2029) would have been in this initial order. However, due to a branding change at the time, the blue-and-green stripes were never added to these buses. They were known simply as “the white buses” to the Vehicle Maintenance team.

The logo placement and lockup is pretty spot on for 2003 and includes the older “dome” logo lockup.

Interior

Unfortunately, the interior wasn’t nearly as close to reality.

Sarah, one of the show’s characters, is shown sitting on red-and-purple upholstered seats with red seat frames. The actual upholstery at the time was a blue-and-green pattern with stainless steel seat frames.

Recap

Turns out the producers were close. Kinda. Regardless, it’s still fun to see.

Photos of these older vehicles are hard to come by, but we dug up a few just for you.

In celebration of Black History Month, CapMetro commissioned Austin artist Richard Samuel to design a bus wrap that was unveiled recently. The wrap honors some of Samuel’s favorite comic artists.

Samuel runs Austin’s only Black-owned art gallery, Riches Art Gallery, located at 2511 E. Sixth St. Among his many works is a 24-foot-by-30-foot mural of Uziyah Garcia, one of the Uvalde school shooting victims. He says he’s been a lifelong artist.

“My family are huge art enthusiasts and have been buying me art supplies since they saw me draw my first comic book character,” he said. “My first art role models were my older cousins. I wanted to be able to draw just like them.”

Designing the wrap was “really challenging,” he said. “I had to do a lot of research and community engagement to make sure I delivered a perfect message. Art is a visual representation of what we’re going through so I had to make sure I delivered on that. The project artwork took me around 50-60 hours to complete.”

Samuel hopes his art will inspire members of the community.

“I always hope that my artwork inspires,” he said. “It’s usually my motive. When people see this bus, especially young Black kids, I want them to see the beauty of representation and the history that can help you accomplish your future dreams.”

>> Find out more about the artists featured on our Black History Month bus

CapMetro regularly wraps buses to celebrate a variety of occasions. It’s part of the agency’s commitment to the community it serves.

“It’s important because we want to connect with our riders,” said CapMetro Community Engagement Coordinator Kelsey Lammy. “We want to celebrate folks in the Austin community. It’s a great way for us to build trust. We want to make sure we have relationships with the people of Austin.”

Through the CapMetro Art program, which Lammy helps oversee, Central Texas artists are given tremendous exposure by having their work featured on buses and at select bus and rail stops. A panel of jurors helps select the artists.

“We do a lot of community engagement, reaching out to our partners, to put out calls for our artist pool,” she said. “We ask the community, ‘What art would you want to see on the bus?’ ”

The Black History Month bus is “really unique,” Lammy said. “It’s really cool he’s honoring trailblazing Black artists and comics. He’s honoring people who influenced him.”

The Black History Month bus will run various CapMetro routes over the next month, crisscrossing the region. Future bus wraps will include one for Women’s History Month, which is March.

“I really want to thank everyone that made this project possible for me,” Samuel said. “It pushed my artistic boundaries, which is key in the development of myself and my craft.”

You already know many on our team. There are the bus operators you see each morning on the way to work and in the evening on the way home. Our CapMetro Rail, Access and Pickup operators are easily spotted as well.

But there are many others you don’t see or recognize who help our system run. Our Facilities crews keep vehicles and stops clean. Dispatchers handle communications from various departments. Transit Store workers sell passes. And Customer Service reconnects patrons with lost items, among other duties.

The list goes on and on. That’s why we’re proud to roll out a new feature: #MeetCapMetroMonday. Look for it on occasional Mondays throughout the year.

Up first is Public Facilities Manager Fidel Campos.

Here’s Fidel, in his own words:

Dottie Watkins, a lifelong Austinite, will lead the agency following a vote by the Board of Directors on Monday, Jan. 30. She had served as interim CEO since June 2022, while a nationwide search was conducted.

Watkins first joined CapMetro in 1994, working as a part-time shuttle bus operator while attending the University of Texas at Austin. Over the course of nearly three decades, she has held a variety of leadership roles, including Deputy CEO, Chief Customer Officer/Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Bus Operations and Maintenance. During the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, Watkins played a key role in ensuring the region’s transit system continued to operate safely.

“As a board, it was crucial that we selected the right leader for this position and for our community,” said CapMetro Board Chair and Travis County Commissioner Jeff Travillion. “We interviewed multiple qualified candidates for this position, and we wanted to make sure the person we selected had a stellar professional reputation, a proven track record of getting things done and most importantly, was someone the community could trust and their staff could respect and also have confidence in. Dottie meets all those qualifications and I’m confident we made the right decision selecting her as the next President and CEO.”

Watkins assumes her new role immediately.

“I am honored, humbled and ready to serve as CapMetro’s President and CEO,” Watkins said. “I want to thank the board for selecting me to serve in this capacity and for their vote of confidence. I’ve gotten to watch firsthand as CapMetro and our teams grow into what I consider to be among the best in transit agencies in the nation. Delivering safe, reliable and customer-oriented service for our customers is a priority to me.”

It’s shaping up to a busy year for CapMetro. Work is progressing on a Red Line station at Q2 Stadium, home of Austin FC.

“Central Texas has a lot to look forward to when it comes to public transportation, and I can’t wait to continue collaborating with our stakeholders, the CapMetro staff and our community members on the future of CapMetro,” Watkins said. “We work hard, and will continue to do so, to be an agency that delivers service that everyone is proud of and takes care of everyone in our community.”   

CapMetro’s interim President and CEO served as Mother Ginger during the Friday, Dec. 2 Night of Community performance of “The Nutcracker,” which offered clients served by a variety of local social service agencies a chance to see the beloved holiday classic.

During each performance of “The Nutcracker,” a well-known Central Texan is selected to serve as Mother Ginger, delighting audiences and guaranteeing that no two shows are alike. This is Ballet Austin’s 60th anniversary of performing “The Nutcracker.”

“The beloved role of Mother Ginger is one that many of us look forward to every season,” artistic director Stephen Mills said. “When a celebrity Mother Ginger appears in the second act, it’s a way for us to celebrate the great work that these community members have done for our city. It’s also a special moment when the community becomes part of the production.”

A lifelong Austinite who is a graduate of McCallum High School, the University of Texas and St. Edward’s University, Watkins said the night was one to remember. She was especially proud her daughter could be there to watch the performance.

“Wow! Still on Cloud 9,” she wrote on Twitter shortly after the show wrapped up. “It was truly a magical evening. Thanks to Ballet Austin for inviting me to take the stage with such a talented group of folks and thanks to my CapMetro family for all the support! Extra special for my daughter to see Mama on the big stage.”

After a short break this week, “The Nutcracker” resumes Friday night, Dec. 9. The show runs through Dec. 23 at the Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive. For tickets, visit the Ballet Austin website. And don’t forget to map out your trip to the Long Center aboard CapMetro by heading to our Trip Planner.

The Nutcracker’ schedule

This is the fourth election since Project Connect was on the ballot in 2020 and the third election in 2022 where voters demonstrated that our communities value and need public transportation in Central Texas. In May 2022, constituents in Leander also voted in favor of continuing their partnership with us.  

We are appreciative of the support and are eager to continue connecting our region through a variety of services, such as Pickup, MetroAccess, bus and rail. 

Although our services are strongly utilized across the region, cities are faced with tough choices due to limited funding. We understand why these measures are placed on ballots, but time and time again, Central Texans have strongly voiced their support for sustainable, equitable and robust public transportation. As the region continues to grow, we are prepared to grow with it, by increasing and providing more services throughout our communities. 

We are committed to all our member cities and through our Build Central Texas program, we will continue strategically supporting them with public transportation at the forefront.  

We provide safe and reliable transportation across Central Texans, a responsibility we have never taken lightly. We are honored to continue serving the community as we work together to expand the public transportation system that can help solve the equity gap felt by so many throughout Central Texas.  

CapMetro welcomes – and encourages – your comments on our blog. Comments that are abusive in nature will be removed, in accordance with our social media policy.

The agency learned this week it was named a Texan by Nature 20 (TxN 20) recipient, joining 19 other Lone Star State businesses cited as the best of the best when it comes to protecting the environment.

Other recognizable names on the 2022 list are a handful of Austin-based firms, including tech giant Cirrus Logic and Yeti, maker of trendy coolers, thermoses, koozies and more. See the full list here.

The TxN 20 list first debuted in 2019, with a focus on 12 industries. CapMetro is being honored in the midsize Transportation category.

“Sustainability is central to the mission of CapMetro and is reflected as a core value,” said Dottie Watkins, interim CapMetro president and CEO. “Sustainability is built into our commitment to the region and the community of Central Texas as a guiding principle of Project Connect. Some of the objectives include building an all-electric fleet, using renewables like solar and wind as major sources of energy, and using the most advanced systems to reduce water use and waste in all operations.”

The CapMetro board and members of the Executive Management Team lead the sustainability charge, which filters down to employees throughout the organization.

CapMetro has focused in recent years on acquiring vehicles with multiple features to help further conservation and sustainability efforts:

Zero-emission CapMetroBuses

• North Operations Center can currently accommodate 180 electric buses
• Currently 12 electric buses in service; 200 more on the way in the next four years

CapMetroBikes

• System improved and expanded
• Bike racks on each CapMetroBus; bike hooks on CapMetroRail
• Transit facilities connected to bike trails
• Gold rating from League of American Cyclists Bicycle Friendly Business since 2016

Zero-emission CapMetro fleet vehicles

• Electric fleet vehicles for operations staff, including several Nissan Leafs, with more on the way

“This recognition by TxN validates that we are on track and leading the industry in sustainable and operational practices that truly make a difference,” said Rob Borowski, CapMetro’s sustainability officer. “TxN brings together people and organizations of all types to implement real solutions – making this recognition even more powerful. It is both an honor to be selected, and a challenge to us to keep innovating.”

>> READ: CapMetro’s Sustainability Vision Plan

Examples of long-term conservation methods undertaken by CapMetro include:

• Greenhouse gas emissions: Carbon neutral by 2040, consistent with the City of Austin Climate Equity Plan. 
• Zero waste: 90 percent reduction of waste to landfills by 2040, consistent with the City of Austin Zero Waste Strategic Plan. 
• Water and nature: Sustainably manage water resources and enhance nature and natural systems through conservation and green infrastructure. 
• Sustainable buildings and infrastructure: Use sustainable design guidelines and rating systems (Envision, Austin Energy Green Building, LEED) to guide all capital projects. 
• Equity and livable communities: Leverage transit resources to enhance sustainability, connectivity and access to opportunities; and create livable places, especially in historically disinvested communities. 

Short-term objectives are embedded in CapMetro operations and projects through these action areas: 

• Energy: Reduce the energy used in our current facilities and operations through a comprehensive energy management program. Renewable energy is the first choice. 
• Sustainable and zero-emission fleet: Transition all revenue and non-revenue fleets to zero-emission. 
• Water and natural world: Assess all assets and properties for opportunities to conserve, restore and enhance natural areas, improve biodiversity, increase native plants and protect watersheds and water resources. 
• Zero waste and natural resource management: Manage operations to reduce the amount of waste generated and prioritize options, such as surplus using, repurposing, asset management, organics management and recycling.
• Green buildings and infrastructure: Design all new buildings and capital projects to prioritize the highest practical environmental and sustainability performance and to support net zero carbon goals within the established timeframes.
• Environmental and sustainability management: Reestablish and implement an Environmental and Sustainability Management System (ESMS) that supports our goals to reduce climate footprint, reduce environmental impact and improve facility resiliency.  

CapMetro welcomes – and encourages – your comments on our blog. Comments that are abusive in nature will be removed, in accordance with our social media policy.

Are you brave enough to roam the streets on All Hallows’ Eve? With celebrations, costume contests and themed bars popping up all over Austin, CapMetro can be your answer to a stress-free ride home. Remember, kids 18 and under always ride free. So do Austin Community College and University of Texas students, staff and faculty.

On Saturday, Oct. 29, CapMetroRail will run until 2:30 a.m. and CapMetroRapid will run until midnight. Rail will also run until midnight on Monday, Oct. 31 for weeknight Halloween warriors. If you plan to be out late, Night Owls will run until about 3 a.m. and will depart from the intersection of Sixth Street and Congress Avenue. If you’re going back to the UT campus area or North Lamar Boulevard, take the Night Owl 481, whereas the Night Owl 483 serves Riverside.

To make all your Halloween planning a bit easier, we’ve brainstormed some topical costume ideas. In line with the theme of dumping the pump and riding public transit, some of these ideas are related to saving the Earth, which never goes out of style. Just like previous years, our buses, trains and bikes agreed to model these costumes for us.

ET (Modeled by CapMetroBike)

ET walked so that “Stranger Things” could run. We’re bringing back a timeless 1980s costume featuring our favorite extraterrestrial. Although you might not be able to fly through the sky on your bike, you can still relive the emotional voyage of this little alien who finds himself far from home. You’ll need a red hoodie, basket, white towel, ET plushie and bike. No bike? No problem. Download the BCycle app to rent a CapMetroBike to both complete your costume and get you home. And with the CapMetro app, you, too, can phone a safe ride home.

Super Mario Bullet Bill (Modeled by CapMetroRail)

Isn’t it every kid’s dream to be launched out of a cannon? Join the dark side in a Bullet Bill costume. This is perfect for a budget- and time-friendly kids’ costume. Select the best all-black outfit from your closet, add a black ski-mask and don white gloves. Take it to the next level by getting your friends to dress up as Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach. Toad can come, too.

NASA spacecraft (Modeled by CapMetroBus)

With the resurgence of 1990s fashion and space exploration, we’ve been seeing an abundance of NASA T-shirts incorporated into current fashion trends. Why not take the NASA appreciation a step further and dress up as a Dart spacecraft crashing into an asteroid 7 million miles from Earth? Why? To save humankind from suffering the same fate as the dinosaurs somewhere down the line, of course. You’ll be kind of a big deal.

Top Gun Maverick (Modeled by CapMetroBus)

Make your pilot dreams a reality with a “Maverick” costume. Take the bus to your local thrift store and find an army-green jumpsuit, helmet and classic aviator-style sunglasses. Print out a U.S. flag and “Top Gun” patch at home for final touches. Although this one can be a great last-minute costume, wear it with pride. It’s not just any pilot outfit … you’ll be known as the fastest man alive.

Austin FC (Modeled by CapMetroAccess)

It’s been a good year for Austin’s MLS team. If you have an iconic green-and-black striped jersey, we recommend topping it off with cleats, knee-high socks and face paint. Whether you’re going as goalkeeper Brad Stuver or another one of your favorite players, you’ll be able to feel Los Verdes pride during this playoff season. And remember, the best way to get to Q2 Stadium is by riding CapMetroRail.

CapMetro welcomes – and encourages – your comments on our blog. Comments that are abusive in nature will be removed, in accordance with our social media policy.