Metro to Present Bus Improvement Plan to Board

ARLINGTON, Va. - The top man at Metro admits he has got one of the oldest bus fleets in the nation, but says he has plans to turn that around.

Metro CEO Richard White told and audience celebrating the opening of a new bus garage that Metro plans to buy more buses. That will make the age of the average bus just over six years old, instead of 11.

The full $830 million capital improvement plan for buses will be presented to board members Thursday. It includes $600 million to replace aging buses and add new buses to the fleet.

White says Metro has been adding new bus service with old buses.

Other improvements in the works include outfitting busier bus stops with real-time information so riders know precisely what time the next bus will arrive.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)