Metro News Release

For immediate release: January 17, 2007

Metrobus Service Reliability Improves During Last Six Months

Metrobus Sees a 36 Percent Improvement in Reliability from 2005 to 2006

Metrobus reliability increased significantly through the first six months of fiscal year 2007 (July 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006), resulting in improved customer service for the region’s 450,000 weekday riders.

In December 2006, the “mean distance between failure rate” for Metrobus was 8,618 miles, a 13 percent increase over November 2006, and a 36 percent increase from December 2005. The mean distance between failure rate is a standard transit measurement.

Through the first six months of fiscal year 2007, the breakdown rate for Metrobus was 6,434 miles, compared to 4,678 miles through the first six months of fiscal year 2006, a 37 percent increase.

“Last year we took several steps in the right direction to improve Metrobus service and we are beginning to see those changes make a difference,” said Jack Requa, Metro’s Acting General Manager. “The breakdowns have been dramatically reduced due to the recent addition of 417 new buses, which entered service last year, lowering the average age of our Metrobuses to 6.6 years.”

Metrobus riders have also seen improvements in service measured by a 32 percent decrease from last December in the daily number of lost bus trips per 1,000 trips as a result of fewer bus mechanical failures.

“The improvement is an encouraging trend and we expect it to continue,” said Phil Wallace, Metro’s Acting Chief Operating Officer for Metrobus. “In addition to taking delivery of 417 new buses in 2006 warm weather conditions through the second half of 2006 and enhanced maintenance measures have resulted in Metrobuses staying on our streets for a longer period of time.”

The decrease in service failures and the reduction rate in the number of lost trips can be attributed to several initiatives launched by Metro. These include an improved preventive maintenance program, increasing diagnostic training for mechanics, and increasing the use of technology on newer buses that inform operators and mechanics of potential problems before they develop.
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News release issued at 12:00 am, January 17, 2007.