NABI wins Santa Monica Blue Bus contract

The City of Santa Monica awarded a multi-year contract to NABI and issued a Notice to Proceed (NTP) for the purchase of nine 40-foot low-floor CNG transit buses with options to purchase up to an additional 58 buses over the five-year contract period subject to approval by the City Council.

The purchase of these buses is being made in part by the Federal American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) economic stimulus funding program.

The new alternate fueled CNG transit buses will replace nine 40-foot diesel powered buses, which have exceeded their 12-year useful life.

Additionally, the desirability of 40-foot low-floor buses for operation on Santa Monica Big Blue Bus (SMBBB) fixed-route services will continue to enhance SMBBB's operational efficiency and service quality.

With these additional nine 40-foot buses as well as the 16 60-foot articulated CNG buses recently awarded to NABI, 100 percent of Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus fleet will be powered with alternate fueled propulsion systems.

(Source: Metro Magazine)

Connecticut Department of Transportation takes delivery of 33 MCI® Commuter Coaches

SCHAUMBURG, IL — June 28, 2010 — With the assistance of federal transit stimulus funds, the Connecticut Department of Transportation has purchased 33 MCI D4500 coaches, the intercity coach model fast becoming the most popular on many scheduled-service routes throughout the United States.

According to ConnDOT Transit Administrator Michael Sanders, the ADA-compliant and Wi-Fi ready Commuter Coaches will be split among five regional operators: CT Transit, Connecticut's state-owned bus service that operates in eight urban areas statewide, including Hartford; Dattco, a family-owned transportation company based in New Britain that provides transit, para-transit and shuttle services; Arrow Line of Hartford (a division of Springfield, Massachusetts-based Peter Pan), Kelly Transit of Torrington, which provides support coaches to many area transit systems, and Collins Bus Service, a division of Post Road Stages in South Windsor.

"Many of these coaches will replace existing older coach models, some of which were MCIs," said Sanders. "Most of them will be used in commuter operations around the Hartford region, but five will be used on the I-Bus, an express line between Stamford, Connecticut and White Plains, New York."

The MCI D4500 Commuter Coach is a workhorse in a growing number of U.S. public transit systems, delivering style, comfort and the latest communications technology for a demanding new generation of passengers. The ConnDOT order featured the D4500's with Internet connectivity, a standard 57 seat configuration and a Cummins ISM 10.8L, 410-horsepower engine with an Allison B500 Gen IV automatic six-speed transmission.

Sanders points out that ridership throughout the Connecticut system is headed up after a weak 2009 and the new coaches will help retain ridership and gain new customers. "We're having a more stable year and it's nice to be able to offer new equipment to our passengers." (Source: MCI)

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These buses are a great addition to the CTTransit fleet. As a person who rides the I-bus from time to time, this was a long time coming for the line. Using New Flyer low floors for a highway run is not the most comfortable option. Though the New Flyers did the job in terms of speed and reliability, but in terms of passengers comfort, no so much!

-Trevor, TTMG Webmaster

We Say Goodbye To A Few Subway Lines.

As many of you may know the MTA's service cuts went into effect on June 27th, 2010. Many of the TTMG teamsters took to the rails on the Friday prior to ride and shoot the last bit of service on the MTA's Brown (M), (V) and (W) lines. Each line went out with its on fanfare, but most noted was the (V) trains last run which included an impromptu party in its last car (Which eventually got out of hand). Most of the TTMG teamsters took to the last (W) instead which turned out to be the calmer option.