It can be difficult to grasp the scale of Metro Transit's operations.
The picture becomes a bit clearer in a new Fact Book that provides a snapshot of all the services Metro Transit provides. The recently-released 2013 Fact Book covers the big numbers -- 81.4 million rides, 128 bus routes, 74 Park & Rides -- as well as plenty of other lesser-known details. Here are just a couple 2013 facts included in the latest edition:
> There were 1,498 bus drivers and 78 light-rail operators at the end of 2013.
> Customer Advocates provided 492 "how to ride" presentations to introduce people to Metro Transit's services in 2013.
> The Lost & Found received 22,274 unique items and customers claimed nearly a quarter of these items.
> Real-time NexTrip departure information was requested around 49.2 million times -- a new annual record.
> Metro Transit's fleet includes 570 40-foot diesel buses, 169 60-foot articulated buses, 132 hybrid-electric buses and 41 coach buses.
The Fact Book also highlights the growth occurring ahead of the METRO Green Line's June 2014 opening.
At the end of last year, 31 new Siemens light-rail vehicles had been received to support operations on the Green and Blue Lines. Additional bus and light-rail operators have also been hired. The total number of vehicle in-service hours -- a measure of how much time buses spend on the road -- also grew to nearly 2.29 million hours, an increase of more than 61,000 hours. The service hours came through improved bus service on routes connecting to the Green Line, a trend that will continue this year.
Explore the numbers in full at metrotransit.org/facts.