Watch Documentary on What Makes METRO Move

Mary Sit — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:57:00 GMT

If you're one of the hundreds of commuters who rides METRO, you probably climb on-board, settle in your seat and never think twice about what keeps the buses and trains running.

And that's the way it should be - a seamless, safe ride for you.

But what happens to the buses at night when they complete their runs?

Watch METRO Moves tonight on HCCTV, Channel 19 on Comcast at 6 p.m. You'll find out that our six bus operating facilities, known as BOFs, are open daily to clean and maintain our fleet of buses. Three of the BOFs are open 24/7.

The buses are refueled at the BOFs every night with dripless, fast-fuel equipment. Each bus can hold 125 gallons of diesel fuel.

We replace 100 buses a year - using hybrid-electric buses - making our fleet one of the youngest in the nation. Buses are parked facing in or facing out in their assigned spots, indicating to the repair crew which buses need work.

Before any bus pulls out for the day, the driver uses a handheld computer to check numerous safety points in a detailed pre-trip inspection.

On the train, inspectors ride the rail daily and walk around each train to inspect it with a hand-held computer.

You'll also meet some of the men and women who plan the routes, analyze the ridership and make changes that bring service to where it's needed - without increasing costs.

Watch all this tonight at 6 p.m. It will be repeated every night through Friday. If you don't get Comcast, you'll be able to view it on our Web site after 5 p.m. Click here.

HCCTV, Comcast Channel 19 tonight at 6 p.m. It will be repeated every night through Friday this week.
You will also be able to see in on our Web site tomorrow.

Tune in tonight to HCCTV, Comcast's Channel 19 to hear how buses are the backbone of METRO's system.

In this documentary, meet the men and women who work hard behind-the-scenes to make sure METRO's buses are safe, clean and reliable.

Called "Precious Cargo," this documentary showcases the transformation of METRO's fleet over the decades to one of the youngest fleets in the nation, with 100 hybrid-electric buses added every year.

Learn about METRO's commitment to making the buses accessible to the disabled and its initiatives to making the system safer.

You'll hear from employees who have worked here for 25 or 30 years - and are still passionate about what they do.

If you don't have cable, you can watch the documentary on our Web site at http://www.ridemetro.org/. Click the yellow button that says, "We're ready for our close-up."

Write On METRO : Documentary

Watch Documentary on What Makes METRO Move