CapMetro inks deal with new CEO

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Flanked by Capital Metro board members, Linda Watson put pen to paper and became the transit agency's newest CEO on Monday.

"I want the bus service, the para-transit service, the rail service that we provide to absolutely be the best that this community can offer," said Watson.

Watson will make a base salary of $228,000 per year with the possibility of bonuses and $25,000 in deferred compensation starting with in year two.

Watson said she did not ask for the car allowance she was given as part of her contract. She said she recently signed a lease in Austin at a building that is close to three bus routes.

She told members of the media after the meeting that she is working on a first-100-day plan. When asked what are some of the issues she plans to tackle she named:

• Relations with Capital Metro's union
• The agencies paratransit services
• The overall image in the community.

"I think those are three priorities that I think we can do a better job on," Watson said.

Union President Jay Wyatt said he's optimistic about Watson's future with Capital Metro. He believes she needs to "clean house" of management that was brought in under Capital Metro's last CEO, Fred Gilliam.

"You can't teach an old dog new tricks, so I think it would be a burden for her if she kept them, so she needs to clean house,"Waytt said.

Watson is still technically the CEO of LYNX , the public transit agency in Orlando, Fla.

Her first day on the job in Austin will be August 16.

Other business

Besides approving Watson's contract board members also approved new rules that will ban smoking at bus stops and metro rail stations.

A contract to continue services with University of Texas was also approved.

The new two-year contract will allow UT students, faculty and staff to continue riding Capital Metro buses without having to pay anything out of pocket.

One board member recently questioned the funding provided by UT saying they were not paying their fair share. UT pays about half of the cost under the plan.

The board approved the shorter contract hoping that Watson will try and negotiate a more favorable contract.