Metro celebrates 100 million passenger trips in 2000
See a streaming video of the celebration at the University Street station in the bus tunnel [requires RealPlayer plug-in]
For the first time in its 28-year history, more than 100 million passenger trips were taken aboard King County Metro Transit in the year 2000. To commemorate this achievement, and to thank the customers who have been key to reaching the goal, more than 100 Metro employees went out during this morning's peak hour commute to personally thank King County residents for their continued support of public transportation.
 Metro
street teams wearing teal-colored aprons personally contacted an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 commuters during the three-hour period, passing out special commemorative bookmarks, stickers and chocolates at 24 of the busiest Metro locations. The commemorative items were also sent to 6,200 vanpool riders and 5,000 ACCESS Transportation riders. Banners, placards and bus ads carry the message: "Thank you for 100 Million Trips in 2000." The 24 locations were selected to best capture the majority of riders coming into the major transit hubs from all parts of north, east and south King County; one banner is stretched across the pedestrian overpass leading to the West Seattle Bridge.
 The center of the live celebration was the University Street Station in the downtown bus tunnel, through which about 4000 commuters pass each morning. Performing at that station was "The CBD Band," a jazz band composed of off-duty Metro bus operators; "CBD" is Metro shorthand for "central business district."
"This amazing milestone is a tribute to the quality and reliability of the service that Metro puts out on the streets day in and day out," said County Executive Ron Sims. "To retain our current riders and keep on attracting new ones says we're doing something right to get the service out where customers want it, the way they want it. I also want to once again thank the voters for their ongoing commitment to keeping this one of the finest public transportation systems in the country."
"Every ride really does make a difference," added Sims, and the bookmarks handed out explained why "100 Million Trips in 2000" is significant, and why Metro Transit is a key player in solving our current transportation challenge:
"Fact #1 -- 57
million drive-alone trips saved.
Fact #2 -- 320
million miles of traffic congestion reduced.
Fact #3 -- 14
million gallons of fuel saved.
Fact #4 -- 3.5
million pounds of pollution kept out of our air.
Facts #5 thru
99,999,999 + YOU = 100,000,000 rides!"
Since its inception in 1973, Metro service has grown at more than three times the rate of population growth in King County. It is the 10th largest system in the United States, while the metropolitan Seattle area is ranked the 18th largest urban area in the country. Each weekday, Metro buses provide more than 300,000 rides -- equivalent to the number of vehicles crossing the I-5 ship canal bridge everyday. Metro's 100 million passenger trips ranks it 11th among U.S. transit agencies for total ridership.
Metro also provides transit service at the lowest operating cost per passenger mile when measured against 13 comparable agencies, according to an independent audit performed last year. And overall satisfaction with Metro has remained high. In 1999, 92 percent of Metro passengers said they were satisfied with their service.
Members of "The CBD Band" are bus operators Walter Davis on keyboards, Darryl Estes on sax and Carl Jackson on drums. Each is an accomplished musician who drives full-time for Metro.
- Walter Davis has been playing keyboards since the age of 8. He is the musical director of Bethel Christian Church. He has been performing in his family's musical group, "The Davis Family," with his twelve brothers and sisters. Walter was born and raised in Seattle, and is 40 years old.
- Carl Jackson has been playing drums for 33 years, since he was 14 years old. Carl studied at Julliard and spent two years at the Manhattan Percussion Center. He spent 6 years as a studio musician, and is currently working in two bands, as well as a studio project. Carl is originally from Brooklyn, New York.
- Darryl Estes has been playing the saxophone since the age of 10. Originally from South Paris, Maine, Darryl was a music education major at the University of Maine. In his spare time, Darryl plays locally in the "Rococo Blues Band." Darryl finds time to practice when he gets to the end of the line on his bus route. He is 35 years old.
Thanks for the Rides. See you in 2001.
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