Transparency is widely acknowledged to be key in corporate communications. Maintaining openness about spending and funding can build brand trust and loyalty as the public becomes aware of the business’ practices. It also assuages stakeholders concerns about use of funds and budgets.

Capital Metro, the transit authority in Austin, Texas, has long had a dedicated webpage for fiscal reporting – its budget and spending is clearly accessible to passengers and stakeholders alike. It has also embraced transparency as core to its buiness practice. But Capital Metro has taken transparency one step further.

The transit authority has introduced 35-foot graphics featuring x-ray images on six buses in its fleet. Designed to communicate the agency's transparency, the supergraphics exemplify Capital Metro's business outlook in an accessible manner.

“Increased transparency and accountability have been two key goals for raising the bar at Capital Metro,” Linda Watson, Capital Metro president, says, “and will ensure we’ll be able to make wise investments in the future for needed transit services for our community.”

Watson adds, “We’ve made transparency and financial stability a cornerstone of the way we do business so we will have the resources necessary to invest in our future, a future that will give all Central Texans more transportation choices.”

While most public authorities, including Britain’s own department of transport, are wont or even required to report on their use of funds, the explicit embracing of a transparent business practice is unique to Capital Metro.

The design work on the supergraphics was done by Capital Metro’s own Paul del Bosque and implemented by Phoenix-based outdoor advertising company BP Graphics.