FY 2008 ridership up by 2 million trips
MEDIA CONTACT INFORMATION:
| 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 Ridership Up Six Percent in FY 2008
October 30, 2008NEWS FACTS
- Capital Metro ended its 2008 fiscal year (October ¿ September) with a six percent ridership increase system-wide.
- On average, on any given weekday in 2008, an additional 6,000 Central Texans rode a Capital Metro bus than in 2007.
- Express route ridership continues to soar, and in September, an additional 24,360 trips were made on Express routes than in September 2007. Express route ridership saw a 25 percent increase in FY 2008.
- Additionally, more UT students and City of Austin employees rode the bus in 2008, up 12 percent and 22 percent, respectively.
- Capital Metro has maximized its resources to provide additional service, adding trips to the busiest routes and reallocating resources to meet demand as part of regularly-scheduled service changes.
- Capital Metro also purchased an additional nine buses during 2008. One 45-foot MCI coach-style bus is already in service; another eight 40-foot New Flyer buses will arrive soon and be in service by March 2009.
- Riding Capital Metro can help stretch your budget, too. At today¿s gas prices, a person riding Capital Metro saves $1,906 per year in gas and car maintenance costs. An Austin-area household that gives up a car and takes Capital Metro instead saves a phenomenal $7,500 per year.
MULTIMEDIA ELEMENTS
In FY 2008, Express route ridership increased by 25 percent, or 153,436individual boardings, over FY 2007.
New to Capital Metro? Our How to Ride Guide will get you started. http://www.capmetro.org/riding/using.asp
QUOTES
- "In tough economic times, every penny counts. Capital Metro provides a great
service for a fraction of what it costs to make your daily commute by car.
Calculate your individual savings on our Web site."
-- 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