Motor Coach Industries (MCI) has announced that Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LA DOT) has added nine more compressed natural gas Commuter Coaches. The new 45-foot coaches, purchased off an option at an estimated cost of $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.
“MCI is proud of all of its long-time public transportation partnerships, but Los Angeles is special because of the city’s history working for a cleaner environment,” said Patrick Scully, MCI executive vice president of sales and marketing. “MCI is dedicated to innovation in green mass transit and we are honored LA DOT has put our products to work in their effort.”
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. “MCI coaches have proven to be reliable on our express routes, and have surpassed our expectations in terms of in-service availability," said Ralph.
The MCI Commuter Coach is built with a semi-monicoque stainless steel frame and advanced handling features for a safe ride at highway speeds. The new coaches have wheelchair lifts, padded forward-facing seats for 57 riders and amenities like personal reading lights and airflow controls. Options added include bike racks, security cameras, power outlets and USB ports at every seat, and most importantly, in-cabin Wi-Fi to allow distance riders to work and relax with their digital devices.
LA DOT’s Commuter Express system connects outlying suburban districts with Downtown Los Angeles and other busy centers including Century City, Westwood, LAX, El Segundo, Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank and Encino. All together, LA DOT operates over 300 vehicles, serving nearly 30 million passengers a year.
