1,500 Public Transportation Professionals to Visit Capital Metro
| Adam Shaivitz | Misty Whited | Erica McKewen |
| (512) 369-6027 | (512) 389-7572 | (512) 369-6085 |
| (512) 844-5153 cell | (512) 844-5090 cell | (512) 401-7665 cell |
Capital Metro Welcomes 1,500 Public Transportation Professionals to Austin
2008 American Public Transportation Association Bus & Paratransit Conference Rolls into Austin, May 3-7 May 1, 2008NEWS FACTS
- The 2008 American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Bus & Paratransit Conference takes place in Austin, May 3-7, at the Hilton Austin Hotel.
- More than 1,500 transit professionals are expected to attend this annual networking, training and conference event for the public transportation industry.
- As host system, Capital Metro will share its operations with attendees and has planned four technical tours on Tuesday, May 6, 2-5 p.m., to showcase key areas of innovation and best practices. Tours are not open to the public; however, media may attend.
- Technical tours will include: Capital Metro Wellness Center and Child Care & Learning Center; Capital Metro North Operations Facility and Railcar Vehicles; Combined Transportation, Emergency Communications Center (CTECC); and, Capital Area Rural Transportation System.
- The conference will also feature a bus display of the newest and greatest buses from several bus manufacturers, Monday, May 5, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The buses will be parked on Trinity Street between 2nd and 4th Streets.
- The International Bus Roadeo Competition is held in conjunction with the conference. The country's best bus operators and mechanics will compete at the Toney Burger Center on Sunday, May 4, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Austin City Councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem Betty Dunkerley, Travis County Commissioner and Capital Metro Board Vice-Chair Margaret Gomez, and Capital Metro President and CEO Fred Gilliam will deliver opening remarks at the conference, highlighting Austin's commitment to great public transportation.
- APTA is a nonprofit international association of 1,500 member organizations including public transportation systems; planning, design, construction and finance firms; product and service providers; academic institutions; and state associations and departments of transportation.
- APTA members serve more than 90 percent of persons using public transportation in the United States and Canada.
QUOTES
- "I'm so pleased that Capital Metro was selected host for the 2008 Bus &
Paratransit Conference. Several facets of our operation are considered best
practices within the industry, and the conference gives us an opportunity not
only to show off a little, but also to learn new and better ways to do things
from colleagues throughout the country."
-- Fred Gilliam, Capital Metro President/CEO
ABOUT CAPITAL METRO Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority provides bus service on flexible, convenient schedules at more than 3,000 bus stops throughout Central Texas, providing riders with an average of 140,000 one-way trips each day. Capital Metro's fixed route bus service includes 54 metro and flyer routes, 24 special routes, five downtown circulator 'Dillo routes, seven express routes and 20 UT shuttle routes. Capital Metro also offers 56 AISD school routes, van and carpooling coordination, shuttles to special events, special transit services for the disabled, and freight rail. Capital MetroRail passenger service from Leander to Downtown Austin will begin in fall 2008. For more information, including an online trip planner and a commute cost calculator, visit www.capmetro.org or call (512) 474-1200.
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority
2910 East 5th Street | Austin, Texas 78702 | (512) 389-7400
Specific Route Information | (512) 474-1200