Capital Metro to Purchase Eight New Buses to Provide Expanded Service

Adam Shaivitz	Misty Whited	Erica McKewen
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Capital Metro to Purchase Eight New Buses to Provide Expanded Service

Capital Metro Ridership Up More than 12 Percent in July

August 28, 2008

NEWS FACTS

Today, the Capital Metro Board approved a purchase of eight 40-foot buses from New Flyer of America, Inc., that could be added to the Capital Metro fleet and be in service by March 2009.
The new buses will provide increased service and frequency on busy bus routes during the morning and afternoon rush hours, as needed.
Even though gas prices started to decrease in July, ridership on Capital Metro continued to soar, with Express route ridership up 69 percent in July 2008 over last July.
On average, in July 2008, Central Texans made about 8,700 more trips each weekday on Capital Metro¿s local metro routes, compared to last July.
Throughout Capital Metro¿s entire system, ridership increased by nearly 252,000 boardings this July over last.
More City of Austin employees also rode Capital Metro in July, up 46 percent over last July.
The new bus purchase is the latest action taken by Capital Metro to provide for the increased demand in service. In June, Capital Metro purchased an MCI 45-foot bus like those currently in service on some express routes, and that bus is now in service on route 983 N. U.S. 183 Express.
In response to sustained demand, Capital Metro added service during the summer to Express routes 982, 983, and as needed, 935 and 990.
As part of the service change that took place on Aug. 24, riders on busy routes 1L and 101 saw expanded service, too.

MULTIMEDIA ELEMENTS
New to Capital Metro? Our How to Ride Guide will get you started. http://www.capmetro.org/riding/using.asp

Learn more about the expanded services of the fall service change, effective Aug. 24. http://www.capmetro.org/news/news_detail.asp?id=5274

QUOTES

"Four dollar per gallon gas prompted many Austinites to try public transportation. What we're anticipating, and indeed, what we're already seeing, is that the convenience and cost savings of riding the bus will keep people riding Capital Metro, even when gas prices start to decrease."
-- Fred Gilliam, President and CEO, Capital Metro

ABOUT CAPITAL METRO
Capital Metro's mission is to provide quality public transportation choices for our community that meet the needs of our growing region. Capital Metro provides bus service on flexible, convenient schedules at more than 3,000 bus stops throughout Central Texas, providing an average of up to 140,000 one way trips per day. The fixed route bus system includes metro, flyer and express routes, downtown `Dillo circulator routes, and UT Shuttle service. Capital Metro also provides MetroAccess service for passengers with disabilities, van and carpool coordination, and freight rail service.

Capital MetroRail is a new passenger rail system expected to open late this year, which will extend 32 miles between the City of Leander and the Convention Center in Downtown Austin. Capital MetroRail will serve nine stations providing convenient service every 30 minutes during morning and afternoon rush hours. MetroRail is part of the All Systems Go Long-Range Transit Plan that includes expanded local and express bus service, MetroRapid bus service, and new and improved park and ride lots. 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