CapMetro Unveils Four Agency Vehicles Wrapped in Student Artwork
26 students from four local elementary schools won an art contest with Creative Action
Austin, TX — In honor of Earth Day, CapMetro unveiled one zero-emissions bus and three Pickup Vehicles wrapped in local students’ artwork. The 26 students were selected through an art competition called “Art on the Bus,” which the agency held in partnership with Creative Action.
This is the agency’s fourth year holding the contest with Creative Action. This year, classes at Baty Elementary School (Del Valle ISD), Houston Elementary (Austin ISD), Jim Plain Elementary (Leander ISD), and ShadowGlen Elementary (Manor ISD) were asked to use recycled materials to create pieces of artwork showing how they envision themselves and their community in 10 years.
“This amazing program provides us the opportunity to partner with local schools to not only teach students about the power of the arts, but also what it means to be sustainable,” said CapMetro’s President and CEO Dottie Watkins. “As a community, one of the best things we can do for a brighter future is educate our young people about the importance of caring for our planet, and how public transportation plays a significant role in that.”
A core value at CapMetro is sustainability, and the agency is committed to becoming fully carbon neutral by 2040. Since the adoption of the agency’s Sustainability Vision Plan in 2022, which helps guide the agency in improving Austin's public transportation network while also protecting the environment, the agency has purchased dozens of electric buses, and will soon begin construction on a 4-megawatt solar array to power our facilities at our North Operations Bus Depot. For most of our current energy needs, we use Green Choice wind energy from Austin Energy. In addition, we are building our facilities using green building and infrastructure best practices. Our newly built McKalla Station, for example, was constructed with a low carbon concrete to reduce our carbon footprint and has native landscaping and rain gardens to increase biodiversity.
As part of this program with Creative Action, four different schools are selected each year for a six-month partnership that includes the art contest and curriculum about sustainability and the environmental benefits of public transportation.
"This year, students participating in the Art on the Bus program were tasked with envisioning what their world will look like a decade from now,” said Creative Action Executive Director Patrick Torres. “CapMetro's dedication to expanding its fleet to be carbon-neutral is integral to fostering an environmentally conscious and sustainable future - one where the visions of these remarkable young artists can become a reality.”
The vehicles are scheduled to stay wrapped with the students’ artwork until April 2025.
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ABOUT CAPMETRO
CapMetro connects people, jobs and communities by providing Central Texans with safe, high-quality and sustainable transportation alternatives. The agency provides over 70,000 daily weekday trips on its buses, trains, paratransit and vanpool vehicles and serves a population of more than 1.2 million in its 543-square-mile service area. The region’s transportation leader, CapMetro has invested in transit services like its High-Frequency Network, which moves more people, more reliably. CapMetro is committed to increasing regional mobility and, through Project Connect, will transform how people travel throughout Central Texas. Visit capmetro.org for more information.
ABOUT CREATIVE ACTION
Founded in 1997, Creative Action is a non-profit organization that provides arts-based education and enrichment programming to youth and families throughout the Greater Austin area. Our dynamic programs equip students with 21st century skills, social and emotional intelligence, a commitment to social justice, and increased creative expression. Professional Teaching Artists also engage young creatives in designing and implementing public art.