For more information, contact:

Ted Burton, Public Relations Manager, 389-7550

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 25, 2000

CAPITAL METRO SAVES WATER WITHOUT SACRIFICING SAFETY

If Capital Metro buses don’t look as shiny as usual, it’s because the agency is cutting back on “bus baths” to help conserve water. Last week Capital Metro voluntarily cut back on bus washing, doing its part to help Austin reduce record water demands which have resulted in mandatory restrictions.

During summer months, Capital Metro normally washes each bus every third day. That’s approximately 100 buses a night. The number has been reduced to 10 to 50 buses a night.

“We’re only washing buses we have to clean for safety reasons,” said Capital Metro Safety Coordinator Mark Ostertag. “The safety of our passengers and the public is our number one priority. If our bus reflectors, lights or windshields are dirty, that could potentially be an unsafe situation.”

When Capital Metro washes buses, it uses recycled water. During a normal 30-gallon bus wash, 50% of the water is recycled. Capital Metro uses a multi-pass, 60-gallon wash for dirtier buses. Up to 95% of that water is recycled.

“We want to do our part to conserve water without being asked,” said Karen Rae, Capital Metro General Manager. “If some of our buses aren’t quite as bright and clean as what our customers are used to, we think they’ll understand.”

Capital Metro has also voluntarily cut back on daily washing of main bus stop shelters. Workers are now washing those shelters once a week except in extreme cases, or when health or safety is an issue.