CapMetro highlights sustainability goals, community outreach and employee awards in CEO report

President and CEO Adi Watkins opened the president’s report by recognizing frontline employees who placed in the agency’s 2025 bus rodeo. Watkins named second-place driver Danny Avila and third-place driver Darren Daniels and recognized mechanic-team representatives for first and second place.

Watkins then provided a Strategic Plan 2030 update focused on the sustainability-vision action area. She said CapMetro aims to be a carbon-neutral agency by 2040 through a combination of reducing its own emissions (fleet and facilities) and displacing car trips by improving transit ridership. "The best thing CapMetro can do for the environment is get people out of their cars and onto the buses and trains," Watkins said. She noted the hybrid bus purchase and a waste-management contract approved at the meeting as early steps aligned with that vision, and discussed exploring solar generation and tree planting as additional measures.

Watkins also summarized community engagement activities (Longhorn football and Austin FC events, the Livestrong Challenge, the Turkey Trot), participation in the Justin Dart ADA commemoration for an accessible Capitol Grounds stop, an award accepted by Police Chief Bowie from the Austin NAACP, and a commencement address and honorary doctorate Watkins received from Saint Edward’s University.

Ending: Watkins closed with holiday wishes and invited board members to take poinsettias decorating the dais; the meeting adjourned at 12:43 p.m.