Moving Austin Beyond the Commute with Dottie Watkins

In this episode of Stop Requested, Levi McCollum and Christian Londono talk with Dottie Watkins, President and CEO of CapMetro in Austin, Texas. Dottie began at CapMetro as a part-time bus operator more than three decades ago and now leads the agency through a period of service expansion and long-term investment. The conversation explores how changing travel patterns are reshaping Austin’s transit network, from more local and crosstown service to new Rapid bus routes. Dottie also discusses Transit Plan 2035, Project Connect, supporting frontline employees, and balancing today’s service with the work of building a stronger regional transit system for the future.