As the 2014 American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Annual Meeting & Expo came to a close in Oct. 15 yesterday, Capital Metro’s staff returned with an armload of awards for its employee wellness program, marketing initiatives and commitment to sustainability.
The prestigious APTA awards are handed out annually to public transportation systems in North America that have shown the highest levels of leadership and advanced the state of public transportation.
Ten years ago, Capital Metro was experiencing health care cost increases of 15-25 percent a year. The agency responded by enacting an innovative, holistic, technology-based Employee Wellness Program aimed at improving employee health and reducing absenteeism, while also increasing morale and safety awareness. The program received the notable “2014 Innovation Award” yesterday at the awards ceremony.
“Since the Wellness Program began, we’ve witnessed some amazing success stories, including staff who’ve been inspired to quit smoking, and several who have started running marathons and triathlons,” said Capital Metro President/CEO Linda S. Watson.
“As an agency, we’ve also collectively lost thousands of pounds through the diverse exercise programs offered for all fitness levels, and the nutrition counseling available. We all appreciate the support our Wellness team provides, and are proud to serve as a healthy example for other transit agencies around the country,” said Watson.
Capital Metro staff involved in the operation of the agency’s Wellness Program include Michael Nyren, director of risk management and Wellness Program founder; Timothy Kelly, Wellness Program manager; Christina Holt, health fitness specialist; Abraham Acosta, health fitness specialist; and Tarie Beldin, registered dietician.
In addition to the national Innovation Award, Capital Metro also took top honors in the 2014 AdWheel Marketing Awards, where over 500 entries were received covering, print, electronic, campaign, special event and social media. Capital Metro’s Project Connect: North Corridor video took first place in the social media category, and was also the Grand Award winner, chosen from first place winners in each group.
The agency also received the Silver Level APTA Sustainability Commitment Award from the APTA Sustainability Committee on Oct. 14. This recognition places Capital Metro among only 16 other agencies in the country that have achieved Silver Level or higher status. Factors going into the accreditation include water-use reduction and an increase in recycling, among other indicators. Capital Metro will be recognized nationally at the APTA Sustainability Workshop in Portland, Ore. next year.
The Center for Digital Government awarded Capital Metro the 2014 Digital Government Achievement Award (DGAA) for the CapMetro Mobile Ticketing App in the Government-to-Citizen Local Government category. The annual awards recognize city, county and state governments for outstanding portals and websites based on innovation, functionality, productivity and performance.
“The transit industry is fueled by innovation, and Capital Metro is proud to be recognized by our peers as an agency on the cutting edge,” said Watson. “The awards that Capital Metro received during the APTA Annual Meeting and from the Center for Digital Government are a testament to our dedication to raising the bar."
