Get ready, get set -- the Metropolitan Transit System is excited to announce that its new fleet of 26 earth-friendly and head-turning buses is set to hit the roads.
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Congestion Free.
The 60-foot articulated buses, known as the 60’ NABI BRT started operating in November, taking traffic off of some of San Diego’s busiest roadways. The buses will serve crowded routes like Routes 7, 15, 20, 30, and 150 and will be seen going to Balboa Park and taking San Diegans to Chargers games.
Green.
Not only are these buses long, allowing them to seat 57 people and two wheelchairs, these buses are friendly to Mother Earth! The NABI buses are powered by a clean, economic Cummins ISLG compressed natural gas engine.
The purchase of the NABI buses advances the MTS goal to eventually retire all operating diesel buses, as these buses will replace diesel powered buses that have been in service for 15 to 17 years. The new buses will reduce MTS maintenance costs and provide even more dependable service to the growing number of riders of MTS services.
Voter-approved.
San Diego MTS purchased 26 of the buses using Federal dollars and State Proposition 1B funds, which was approved by voters in November 2006. Manufactured by North American Bus Industries (NABI), the 26 buses cost $20.4 million and feature wide doors, low floors, a wheelchair ramp, seating for 57 people, and two places for people using wheelchairs.
MTS has also started to receive new 40-foot compressed natural gas buses manufactured by New Flyer. And, in early 2009, MTS will receive 11 gas hybrid vehicles with power drives built by Poway-based ISE.
MTS operates more than 53 miles of light rail track and more than 90 fixed routes. In its fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, MTS set a new ridership record with more than 92 million trips.
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