Sleek vehicles replace old diesel powered buses
San Diego, CA – The Metropolitan Transit System is announcing that the new fleet of 26 earth-friendly and head-turning buses is set to hit the roads.
The 60-foot articulated buses, designed with Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) features, will begin to operate in November on some of San Diego’s busiest roadways. The buses will serve crowded routes such as Routes 7, 15, 20, 30, and 150 and will be seen going to Balboa Park and taking San Diegans to Charger games.
Known as the NABI 60’ BRT, the bus is powered by a clean, economic Cummins ISLG compressed natural gas engine. The purchase of the NABI buses advances the MTS goal to retire all operating diesel buses by 2011.
“When these buses are in service, more than 70 percent of the MTS fleet will run on compressed natural gas,” said the MTS Board Chairman Harry Mathis. “Our goal is to have our entire fleet operating on alternative fuels by 2011.”
The buses 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.
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. For more information, go to www.sdmts.com.
