Motor Coach Industries (MCI) said if Denver’s bus rapid transit (BRT) riders are looking a little happier this month, it’s likely due to new Commuter Coaches from MCI.
MCI has completed the delivery of 42 D-Series Commuter Coaches of a $26 million contract it announced with Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) on March 7, 2016. The delivery follows 2013 and 2015 orders, bringing Denver RTD’s fleet to include 161 newer MCI Commuter Coaches operating on Denver RTD’s regular-route express service and its new Flatiron Flyer BRT (bus rapid transit) service between Denver and Boulder. The new coaches replace older models past their useful life on regular-route express service.
“MCI is once again honored to serve Denver RTD and its ridership with the latest technology and comfort on MCI’s reliable new Commuter Coaches,” said Tom Wagner, MCI vice president of public sector sales. “Denver RTD has made an enormous commitment to intermodal transportation with its very own Transit Center that includes bus gates and light rail, with expansion of its commuter express system to nearby cities. RTD truly stands as a successful and innovative example of how an intermodal mix gives its ridership the best options to get to where they need to be more affordably, efficiently and comfortably.”
The Buy America-compliant MCI Commuter Coach features plush, forward-facing seating and overhead parcel racks with individual reading lights and airflow controls. Engineered to provide a comfortable, safe ride on express and highway routes, Denver RTD's new Commuter Coaches are each equipped with 110V/USB outlets at each seat, bike racks, a wheelchair lift and the latest clean-diesel engine technology for near-zero emissions. As 2015's best-selling coach, MCI’s Commuter Coach also offers ease of maintenance and low total cost of operation. MCI's data shows the model to be 10 times more reliable than the closest competitor.
Denver RTD’s FasTracks transit expansion will add 122 miles of new commuter rail and light rail, 18 miles of bus rapid transit service, 21,000 new parking spaces at rail and bus stations, and enhanced bus service across the eight-county district. Denver’s Transit Center in Union Station features light rail, a 22-gate bus concourse, a Greyhound gate and Amtrak all under one roof in a bustling urban setting.
