MD: MTA Unveils New 'MV-1' Mobility Vehicles
The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) announced the purchase of 40 MV-1 mobility vehicles.
The purchase marks the beginning of the MTA’s long term goal of replacing the mobility fleet’s sedans and many of its cut-away buses.
The MTA’s long term goal is to replace all 120 sedans by 2014 and have MV-1s represent 70 percent of the mobility fleet by 2017. The MTA currently operates 447 mobility vehicles; 325 cut away buses and 120 sedans. This $2 million dollar contract will begin that process. http://www.masstransitmag.com/10910946
AB: Edmonton Transit Awards New Flyer a Contract for 9 Buses
New Flyer Industries Inc. announced that Edmonton Transit has approved the purchase of nine Xcelsior diesel 40-foot heavy-duty bus.
New Flyer has built 880 buses for Edmonton. The nine new buses are anticipated to begin production in the second quarter of 2013 and all buses are expected to be delivered in June. http://www.masstransitmag.com/10897816
Brookville Awarded Contract to Manufacture First American Designed and Produced Off-Wire Capable Modern Streetcars for City of Dallas
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and Brookville Equipment Corporation officially agreed to terms Feb. 26, for the supply of two off-wire capable Liberty Modern Streetcars to the downtown Union Station to Oak Cliff extension project with an option for two additional streetcars.
The light rail vehicle (LRV) will be the first-ever American designed and manufactured off-wire capable streetcar to be delivered to a U.S. public transit agency.
The Oak Cliff streetcar extension is slated for a late 2014 completion and will provide enhanced accessibility to downtown Dallas for residents in adjacent neighborhoods. http://www.masstransitmag.com/10891648
Denver RTD Takes 54 MCI Commuter Coaches
The Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) is taking action to continue that ranking by upgrading its bus fleet.
The RTD, which provides 100 million passenger trips annually to the Denver metro region, has taken delivery of 54 MCI Commuter Coaches from Motor Coach Industries.
RTD’s new commuter coaches are each equipped with a wheelchair lift, ACTIA multiplex system with an ergonomic driver dash and the latest clean-diesel engine technology for near-zero emissions. The newest coaches are replacing an equivalent number of 1998 MCI D-models. http://www.masstransitmag.com/10896740
CA: SunLine Makes Improvements for Local Riders
SunLine Transit Agency announced the installation of the first two Simme Seats at bus stops throughout the Coachella Valley.
The Simme Seat is designed to fit at stops where a transit shelter can’t be accommodated because of a lack of space or stops with lower usage.
Providing passengers with some seating at these locations will improve the rider’s experience. The Simme seat is a good solution that maximizes space by offering seating for two customers, as well as incorporating the bus stop sign and route schedule. http://www.masstransitmag.com/10897316
MI: MTA Going Green in a Big Way
Flint’s Mass Transportation Authority is about to expand its “Go Green” initiative with the highly anticipated arrival of six El Dorado propane vehicles. The propane vehicles will arrive six each week for the next 10 weeks, for a total of 60 new propane vehicles.
Built at the El Dorado National plant in Salina, Kan., the vehicles will be inspected and taken to Hoekstra Transportation in Grand Rapids for the conversion to propane. Once the vehicles arrive at MTA’s Flint facility, installation of an automatic vehicle locator, mobile data terminal, and mobile DVR with cameras will take place. Then, the vehicle can be placed in to service.
The new propane vehicles will replace older vehicles that have been used to provide Your Ride transportation services. http://www.masstransitmag.com/10897999
Joe Petrie | Associate Editor
I came to Mass Transit in 2013 after spending seven years on the daily newsbeat in southeastern Wisconsin.
Based in Milwaukee, I worked as a daily newspaper reporter with the Waukesha Freeman from 2006-2011, where I covered education, county and state government. I went on to cover courts for Patch.com, where I was the main courts reporter in the Metro Milwaukee cluster of websites.
I’ve won multiple awards during the course of my career and have covered some of the biggest political events in the past decade and have appeared on national programs.
Having covered local government and social issues, I discovered the importance of transit and the impact it can have on communities when implemented, supported and funded.
