Metro News Release
For immediate release: September 5, 2007
Metro Repairs Farebox Computer Malfunction Metrobus Reliability Improves in Fiscal Year 2007
A computer malfunction early yesterday morning resulted in Metro not collecting bus fares on most of the Metrobus fleet. Metro officials made temporary repairs yesterday afternoon and as of today, all Metrobuses are collecting regular bus fares.
As repairs were made to the farebox system, Metro officials are reporting that fewer buses broke down last fiscal year due to the reduced age of the Metrobus fleet and enhanced maintenance initiatives.
Passengers riding Metrobus experienced a significant increase in service reliability in fiscal year 2007 (July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007), which translates to improved customer service and satisfaction.
In fiscal year 2007, there was an improvement in Metrobus availability because older buses were retired and replaced with new vehicles.
“The decrease in service failures and the number of lost trips per 1,000 trips is attributed to a dedicated maintenance workforce and a program designed to maintain the bus fleet,” said Milo Victoria, Assistant General Manager for Metrobus. “These initiatives include an improved preventive maintenance program, enhanced diagnostic training for mechanics, and increasing the use of technology on newer buses that inform mechanics of potential problems before they develop.”
Metrobus riders have seen improvements in service measured by a 14 percent decrease in the daily number of lost trips per 1,000 trips as a result of fewer bus mechanical failures, and service reliability improved 19.5 percent over the same period last year from an average of 5,243 miles between mechanical failures to 6,267 miles this year.
In 2006, Metro added its first diesel hybrid electric buses to the fleet. The 50 New Flyer hybrids have run very well and have a mean distance between failure rate of 12,355 miles. New Flyer clean diesel buses are also performing well with an 11,871-mile mean distance between break-downs.
“The addition of new buses to the fleet has also helped improve Metrobus reliability,”said Mr. Victoria. “Ten years ago the average age of the Metrobus fleet was 10.5 years. Today, the average age of the fleet is 7.6 years. That makes all the difference in improving service reliability and Metrobus riders benefit the most with these new buses.”
Coinciding with the improved service reliability, Metrobus carried more passengers last year. In fiscal year 2007, Metrobus ridership totaled 131.4 million, up one half million passengers from 130.9 million last year.
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News release issued at 12:00 am, September 5, 2007.