New Flyer of America Inc. has announced that the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority has awarded New Flyer a contract for up to 300 Xcelsior compressed natural gas (CNG), 60-foot heavy-duty transit buses. The contract is for 65 firm orders and options to purchase an additional 235 buses. This new award will add a total of 600 equivalent units to New Flyer’s backlog.
The buses support LA Metro’s commitment to sustainable transportation, which works toward a vision of all-electric public transportation by 2030. The CNG award immediately follows LA Metro’s award of up to 100 60-foot battery-electric buses to New Flyer.
The award is supported the Federal Transit Administration Local Labor Hiring Pilot Program, which enables FTA grantees, including states and local agencies, to utilize social or economic contracting requirements in competitive bidding. In addition, the Transportation Diversity Council will assist with local employment, hiring a diverse workforce, and the addition of life-skills training to the New Flyer Institute, the Company’s proprietary learning center.
“We are thrilled to build on both our low and no emission footprint in America with an exceptionally progressive partner such as LA Metro,” said Wayne Joseph, president of New Flyer of America. “Together, we are building sustainable transit infrastructure, preserving the environment, and supporting the development and maintenance of local jobs. We are proud to be the largest employer of US workers of any transit bus manufacturer in North America.”
The NFI Group is committed to advancing innovation in the transit industry, and is working to support cities with buses that support development of smart, connected communities while also preserving the environment through Low or No (Low-No) Emission solutions. It has over 50 years of experience in manufacturing zero-emission buses (ZEBs).
New Flyer has bus service, parts, and manufacturing support at three California facilities located in Ontario, Los Alamitos, and Fresno. LA Metro currently serves as the transportation planner, coordinator, designer, builder, and operator for over 10 million people residing in a 4,000-square mile area. This year, it committed to an all-electric bus fleet by 2030.
