Better Buses
Our fleet keeps getting better. We’ve replaced our oldest buses with new vehicles that feature amenities like low floors for easy boarding and air conditioning to keep you cool when it’s warm outside. We now have more than 335 new buses on the road — over half our active fleet. We’re continuing to add more every year, making your ride more comfortable and more reliable.
Statistics for active fleet. Updated March 2017
Features
Less tailpipe emissions
The cleaner-burning diesel engine has Selective Catalytic Reduction technology, which scrubs nitrogen oxides and particulates from the exhaust.
Friendlier interior
Inside, you’ll notice vinyl seats (which are much easier to keep clean), larger windows, brighter LED lighting and a lighter color scheme.
Innovative cooling
A NASCAR-inspired electronic cooling system boosts gas milage up to 10% by using an electrified subsystem instead of a conventional hydraulic or mechanical fan.
Automatic snow chains
At the push of a button, the operator can deploy chains for better reliability in snow/ice conditions.
Better boarding ramp
A longer, more gradual boarding ramp makes it easier for people using mobility devices to board the bus.
Turning lights on the mirrors
For improved safety, we added LED turn-signal lights on the mirrors to alert pedestrians when the bus is intending to turn.
Our newest hybrids
Four new hybrid buses, which we’re calling the “all-electric hybrids,” went into service in November 2015. How can a hybrid be completely electric? Everything on these new buses can be fully electrically powered for up to two miles. If there’s not enough energy stored in the battery, the generator starts and uses the diesel engine, which also recharges the battery. These latest-generation hybrids are designed to be our most efficient for fuel and emissions.
In 2013, four hybrid-electric buses with technology similar to a Chevy Volt went into service. They have quiet electric motors, with components that last longer and require less maintenance. Back in 2002, we were among the first transit agencies in the U.S. to test the first generation of hybrid buses — unfortunately, they weren’t cost-effective (they required expensive parts that had to be custom made) so we retired them in 2012.
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