Disabled riders rule CapMetro forum

AUSTIN (KXAN) - They might be a small percentage of the riders Capital Metro sees everyday, but the two remaining CEO candidates fielded questions from disabled riders more than anyone else during the Monday’s public forum.

"A great many of them don't have sidewalks coming up to the bus stops,” said Sandra Seekamp, waiting in her wheelchair to ask Debra Finn a question. “They don't have the slant, the ramps, going up to the bus stops."

Finn has 30 years of experience in the transportation industry with what Cap Metro calls a record of effective leadership. Her competition, Linda Watson, is the CEO of LYNX, the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority, covering more than 2500 square miles.

Seekamp had nailed the big focus with her statement: accessibility to CapMetro bus stops. The board has not announced when it will make a final decisions, but the public questions posed by people like Seekamp was the final step in the candidates’ interview process.

Watson offered suggestions like working with the city to improve infrastructure.

"If there are not sidewalks and accessible driveways and things that allow people to get to the stop, people can't use your service,” she said.

Finn steered toward talking to the people who use CapMetro everyday - the riders and the staff.

"What are the opportunities to make the whole system as accessible as possible?" she questioned for the future.

The two-hour session brushed on topics like money woes and regaining the public trust after a revealing Sunset Commission Report. While buses and disabled riders took center stage, CapMetro's latest project, MetroRail, was almost forgotten, except from the bicycling community.

"(It) is really important for disabled customers, but that also translates into the cycling community,” said bicyclist Eileen Schaubert.

"I am committed to accessibility, not only for people with wheelchairs and people with disabilities, but also bicycles and pedestrians,” said Watson.

"I get the sense that the agency has tried to be all things to all people,” said Finn, “and then not everyone can be happy. So you have to be very focused."

"We haven't heard words like that in a long time,” Seekamp said, “and they sounded really good."

Check out the candidates' qualifications:

Deborah Wathen Finn
Current Position:

• The Wathen Group, LLC (2009-present) – President

Previous Experience:

• CH2M Hill (2005-2009) – Senior VP and Global Director for Transit and Rail
• HNTB Corporation (2001-2005) – Vice President and Officer in Charge
• Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (1998-2001) – Director of Surface Transportation
• NJ Transit – (1990-1998) Chief of Staff for Rail Operations, Superintendent of the Raritan Valley Line
• The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (1982-1990) – Manager of Environmental Scanning, Chief Administrative Officer
• New Jersey Department of Transportation (1979-1981) – Executive Assistant to the Commissioner

Linda S. Watson
Current Position:
Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (2004-present) – Chief Executive Officer

Previous Experience:

• Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority (1996-2004) – General Manager
• Fort Worth Transportation Authority (1982-1996) – Assistant General Manager, Manager of Development, Deputy Manager of Administration, Administrative Assistant for the General Manager