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SEARCHBus maintenance program has been able to extend the lifespan of buses by 25% and decrease the rate of breakdowns by 85%.
St. Louis' MetroBus has the distinction of being recognized by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) as a model for transit asset management.
Highlighted by the FTA in the July 26 Federal Register was a case study of Metro transit’s bus maintenance program and how it has been able to extend the lifespan of buses by 25% and decrease the rate of breakdowns by 85%, resulting in service reliability for the customer and substantial cost savings for the taxpayer.
Research, academic literature and external reviews from organizations like the U.S. Government Accountability Office emphasize many benefits of asset management programs for transit systems, including:
Improved transparency and accountability.
Better service for passengers.
Potential safety benefits.
Overall lifecycle cost savings through optimized investment and maintenance decisions.
Increased effectiveness of maintenance and reduction in unplanned repairs.
Starting on Oct. 1, 2016, the FTA will require public transportation agencies to develop and implement asset management plans.
Two key aspects of Metro’s success are the close monitoring of each bus in the fleet and the proactive replacement of key components instead of waiting for them to fail. The average lifecycle of a MetroBus is now 15 years and 825,000 miles traveled. The transit industry standard is 12 years and 600,000 miles traveled.
Additionally, overall MetroBus reliability has increased substantially as the time between bus breakdowns has increased from 3,400 miles in 2000 to more than 22,000 miles today.
Construction on all four stations is beginning now and is anticipated to be completed by spring 2028.
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The beginning of the final BRT segment advances construction across all five segments, reflecting steady progress toward shorter travel times, improved accessibility, and a more dependable connection to jobs, businesses, and community destinations.
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The changes are designed to reduce overall travel time, shorten wait times, and get customers to their destinations more quickly.
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The visit is part of the SF Fed's ongoing engagement with major employers and industries across Southern California and, more broadly, the western U.S. to better understand regional economic conditions and business outlooks.
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Advances in data and analytics are giving transit agencies new opportunities to refine maintenance practices, improve efficiency and make more informed decisions about asset performance.
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Today’s riders—and the communities you serve—expect more from public transit. While ADA compliance is required, leading transit agencies know that true accessibility also means delivering dignity, efficiency, and a better rider experience. This whitepaper reveals why forward thinking agencies nationwide choose the Low Floor Frontrunner as their first choice for ADA compliant vehicles—setting a new standard with passenger first design, faster boarding, improved safety, and unmatched operational performance.
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In Part 2 of a two-part conversation, AC Transit’s director of maintenance joins co-hosts Alex Roman and Mark Hollenbeck to discuss his maintenance team’s work with various types of vehicle, training, augmented reality, and more.
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Under this extension, Keolis will continue to manage and operate fixed-route bus service across the East Valley, serving communities including Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, the town of Gilbert, parts of Phoenix, and the Gila River Indian Community.
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The new network reflects extensive input from riders and the community through Reimagine DART on what matters most in public transit — and those priorities are reflected in the changes ahead.
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A new bus lane project aims to improve reliability on one of King County Metro’s busiest and most congestion-prone corridors.
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