The Los Angeles County Metro Transit Authority (Metro) has exercised options for 70 Xcelsior® 60-foot, heavy-duty compressed natural gas (CNG) transit buses from New Flyer, for a total of 140 equivalent units converted from the backlog.
The options are part of a contract with L.A. Metro for up to 400 CNG buses originally announced in October 2017 and includes an initial order of 65 buses with options to purchase an additional 335 buses. The buses are built in St. Cloud, Minn., and are completed in Ontario, Calif.
The order replaces older, end-of-life vehicles, supporting L.A. Metro's goal to reduce emissions in L.A. County through the Zero Emission Roadmap 2.0, while also working toward fulfillment of its Vision 2028 Plan. Vision 2028 aims to transform mobility in L.A. County through a multi-pronged approach that includes reducing traffic congestion, reducing travel time via high quality transit options, delivering outstanding trip experiences and enhancing communities and lives through mobility and equitable access. The order of articulated buses also allows L.A. Metro to deliver greater capacity along its busiest routes, with passenger capacity of up to 120 on each bus.
"Since 1998, New Flyer has proudly delivered nearly 1,500 buses to L.A. Metro to provide greater mobility options through public transit. Our CNG buses continue to provide safe, clean and reliable transit while helping the people of L.A. County move through their community each day," said Chris Stoddart, president, New Flyer. "We commend L.A. Metro on its continued pursuit of sustainable and zero-emission mobility and look forward to assisting the achievement of 100 percent zero-emission transit over the next decade."
