BC Transit has issued a request for proposals to complete the installation of full driver doors on its entire fleet in 28 communities over the next two years.
The request for proposals is for installation of the doors in BC Transit communities outside of Victoria. In Victoria, the full driver doors will be installed by BC Transit staff.
Arow Global Corporation has been selected to design and manufacture full driver doors for the high-capacity buses (double deckers), heavy-duty buses (regular 40-foot transit buses) and medium-duty buses across the province. The successful proponent will install the doors supplied by Arow Global Corporation.
There are 650 high-capacity, heavy-duty and medium-duty buses that will be retrofitted to have the full driver door installed; and 113 new high-capacity, heavy-duty and medium-duty buses will replace current buses in the fleet by the end of 2022 and will come with the full driver door factory installed. BC Transit also expects to have 350 expansion buses added to the fleet over the next decade that will also come with the full driver doors factory installed.
The retrofitting process will begin in Victoria in February, with Kelowna following in July. The remainder of the schedule will be determined through the request for proposals process.
The retrofit project is expected to cost approximately C$6.5 million (US$4.980 million). The cost of the full driver doors installed in the new bus deliveries will be built into the price to manufacture the bus.
BC Transit says safety is a top priority and the full driver door is another tool along with:
- Closed circuit television cameras;
- Driver training to diffuse situations;
- Partnerships with first responders; and
- Enhanced communication technology on board the bus, including the radio system.
