When tragedy strikes in the form of a fire or flood, residents in a home or apartment complex can be left out in the streets quite literally. But with the new MTA Comfort Zone Bus on call, people who find themselves displaced due to a calamity will be able to grab a few moments of warmth and tranquility amid the chaos.
The MTA is launching the Comfort Zone Bus, a previously-retired 60-foot articulated coach, into service starting in January. The MTA has operated a comfort zone bus for decades. Many local residents know the buses, which serve as cooling stations during summertime city events such as the Preakness Stakes and African American Festival.
However, the buses serve a much more serious purpose when they are sent to fires and other calamities to provide shelter for residents, first-responders or others who need a temporary place to find shelter from the elements. In the past, deploying the Comfort Zone Bus meant pulling a regular bus from active street service. But the deployment of the new, dedicated comfort zone bus marks the first time an MTA coach has been specially outfitted solely for its unique task.
Local agencies seeking deployment of the MTA Comfort Zone Bus must contact the Maryland Emergency Management Agency for approval.
“People left out in the cold after a fire need help quickly and that’s what the Comfort Zone Bus can bring them,” said David Varner, MTA director of bus maintenance. “It could be the elderly or children who are displaced so we just want to bring them some relief until folks like the Red Cross and other organizations come to the scene. We are there because people would be standing there freezing if we weren’t there.”
“The bus serves as a tool that offers a space to gather at special events and emergencies,” said Charles Neal, MTA manager of special events and projects.
The new MTA Comfort Zone Bus will have several advantages that will benefit riders – and the environment.
The bus is equipped with a microwave, water cooler and other amenities for riders. Also, the air conditioning and heating units on the bus operate on their own generator, meaning the engine won’t have to be running while the bus is warming or cooling its passengers.
