Austin City Council Member Ann Kitchen was sworn in as the newest member of the Capital Metro board of directors on April 27 at the agency’s monthly board meeting. She will complete the term of former Council Member Mike Martinez.
Kitchen is a former assistant attorney general in the consumer protection division and a former state representative who was elected to the Austin City Council as the District 5 representative in November 2014. In February, Council Member Kitchen was appointed chair of the city’s Mobility Committee by Mayor Steve Adler.
“Council Member Kitchen’s experience is a welcome addition to the board,” said Capital Metro President/CEO Linda S. Watson. “From her time as a state representative to her role representing District 5 and serving as chair of the Mobility Committee, Capital Metro is gaining a wealth of knowledge that will benefit everyone in Austin.”
Kitchen was selected by the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) to serve out the remainder of the term of former Council Member Mike Martinez, which expires June 1, 2016. Martinez had served on the board since 2007, and was named chairman in 2010.
“During his time with Capital Metro, Mike Martinez gave everything he had towards improving the lives of all Austinites,” Watson said. “We’re sad to see him go, but we’ll be forever thankful for all he did in setting Capital Metro up for continued success in the future.”
CAMPO has also reappointed board member Terry Mitchell to the board. Mitchell, whose original term expires June 1, is CAMPO’s financial appointee to the board.
Additionally, current board vice chair Beverly Silas was reappointed by Travis County to serve as the Travis County citizen representative on the board.
Capital Metro board members serve a three-year term.
Service Expansions
Also during the board meeting, a series of interlocal agreements (ILA) with the Capital Area Rural Transportation Services (CARTS) were approved, allowing Capital Metro to provide service to jurisdictions outside its service area. A separate ILA approved will enable Capital Metro to begin working with the city of Hutto to negotiate the creation of a transit development plan, which could bring transit services to the city in the future. A similar agreement with the city of Buda was approved by the board in March.
August 2015 Service Change
The board also approved minor service changes that will take effect Aug. 23 to address school year demand and adjust several service changes implemented in June.
