New Flyer Industries Inc.’s subsidiary Motor Coach Industries (MCI), has delivered nine more compressed natural gas (CNG) Commuter Coaches to Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LA DOT). The new 45-foot coaches, purchased off an option at an estimated cost of USD 6.8 million, brings the number of CNG-powered MCI coaches now part of LA DOT’s fleet to 104.
The new coaches come equipped with a Cummins ISX-G CNG engine and meet standards under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California’s Air Resource Board, which have led to advances in lowering emissions.
According to Corinne Ralph, LA DOT Chief of Transit, the new 45-foot models serve the agency’s goal to improve the quality of express service by replacing older buses, expanding seating capacity, and leveraging technology for improved operational integration. “The new coaches are already in service and our passengers love them,” she said. “Our ridership is particular. We went with a higher capacity 45-foot coach to address the issue of overcrowding on certain routes, and added enhancements to provide our riders with a superior experience.”
LA DOT first ordered 84 40-foot CNG MCI Commuter Coaches with seating for 49 passengers in 2011. All together, LA DOT operates nearly 400 vehicles, serving nearly 30 million passengers a year.
(Source: Motor Coach Industies)
