Completing an order of new CNG buses that comprises 40 percent of the current fleet, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) today received delivery of the 900th and final New Flyer XN40 bus.
“When Metro awarded a $508 million contract for these buses in January 2013 we knew we were getting the best clean air buses available, but the New Flyer XN40 bus has also proven to be a real work horse for our agency,” said Metro Chair John Fasana.
Metro’s New Flyer buses deliver about 650,000 miles each week and boast the highest reliability in the fleet that numbers 2,248 buses. In addition, the XN40 bus features enhanced ADA amenities including an advanced securement system and additional space for passengers in wheelchairs.
“Having a 21st century transportation system means doing everything we can to ease congestion in L.A. County, while continuing to protect our environment,” said Los Angeles Mayor and Metro First Vice Chair Eric Garcetti. “The delivery of the 900th New Flyer XN40 bus reminds us that we can keep our commitment to cleaner air and healthier communities without sacrificing the quality of our transportation system.”
The New Flyer buses are built in St. Cloud, Minnesota with final assembly at a 120,000 square foot facility in Ontario, Calif. that was opened in late 2013 and where 50 new employees were hired to support the Metro contract. Buses were delivered from September 2013 through October 2016 with New Flyer performing on-time and on-budget.
In July, Metro issued a Request for Proposals for as many as 1,000 more buses.
“Metro has the largest clean air fleet in the world and as technology continues to advance so quickly that the next generation of CNG buses we buy will, in all likelihood, will be the cleanest buses of their kind in the world,” said Metro CEO Phillip A. Washington
As a public agency, Metro is a national leader in maximizing sustainability efforts to benefit the 10 million people who live in Los Angeles County. Metro’s sustainability efforts go well beyond buses and trains with local bike and pedestrian improvements and innovative solutions in alternative fuels and emissions controls.
Categories: Policy & Funding, Projects
well those 2002 NABI buses are still fine if they can run for another few years and eventually replace them with electric buses. As a frequent rider, I don’t mind to ride with these old buses as long as they work well. These aging buses can adjust to run in a short distance or those routes that does not have high ridership such as routes in SGV, or some in SFV. It is better for me if Metro invests the money on introducing new bus routes, improve the frequency and the one-time performance, and building more rail project in LAC than just replacing the buses without expanding the transit network.
The only problem with the old units are the CNG tanks. When the tanks expire, the bus can’t legally operate in service and its costly to replace the tanks.
It’s still got to be cheaper to replace the tanks than to replace the whole bus. This could easily be accomplished when they do a mid-life rehab, and it should be too.
yes that’s true. A lot of NFI c40lf units got retanked and returned back to service, why couldn’t the NABIs do the same way? Also I would like to ask Metro to get more electric buses buses on their fleet, currently only 5 out of 2472 means nothing to me. Other than BYD and NFI bus, Metro should also try out the Proterra one.
They should just get rid of the 2002 NABI buses because I don’t like it it really hurts my back it really gives me back sore I wish these 2002 NABI buses never exist anymore and replace it by the CNG buses or the contractor fleet buses such as buses in the San Fernando Valley Division 8 and 15 or the San Gabriel Valley/North Los Angeles County Division 3 routes like 28, 45, 81, 83, 175, 180, 181, 201, 206, 251, 252, 258 and 685 from Division 3 will use it and the San Gabriel Valley Division 9 routes because I use these routes a lot I hope you guys will have these ideas since you guys are making new buses because I like these new buses from 2013 to the present I hope you guys will write my feedback as quickly as possible thank you for your kindness have a good week!!!
I have seen many wheelchairs on these new buses, and never have I seen one in a backwards position. These vertical panels therefore do nothing to serve those in wheelchairs, but they do block the forward vision of nearly all of the passengers. As a result, people will miss their stops, the driver will not be able to see the activity of the passengers, and bicyclists will get their bicycles stolen because they cannot see if someone else is removing their bicycles. No more new buses should be purchased until they are made available WITHOUT those panels. What would it cost to remove the panels from buses that already have them?
I agree with you 100%! We need to call on the MTA to remove these panels, AT ONCE! They’re a hazaed to everyone on every bus that has one of these panels.
[…] agencia recibió el autobús 900 de New Flyer operado con CNG. Es el último de su orden […]
Yeah, those backwards wheelchair things make it hard to keep an eye on your bike.
WHY does the MTA insist on wasting money on buying new buses, when it REDUCES AND ELIMINATES BUS LINES EVERY CHANCE IT GETS?
The fleet is aging and its mostly for replacement of the aging fleet than fleet, especially the contractor fleet that still uses diesel buses in the South Bay.
They should just replace the contractor fleet 8500-8649 and send it to Division 3 routes like 83, 175, 180, 181, 258 and 685 which these routes don’t use it very often because the older buses from 2001 I don’t like it at all it really hurts my whole body and sometimes my body is soar I wish they could just get rid of the oldest buses from 2001 for good and replace it by the contractor fleet 8500-8649 so the Division 9 routes like 28, 45, 81, 83, 175, 180, 181, 251, 252, 258 and 685 will use it just in case the old bus from 2004 brakes down I hope you guys will do that since you guys are making new buses!!!!
Division9 DOES NOT run any of the lines you mentioned. They all operate out of Division 3 in Cypress Park. Furthermore, the older NABI buses haven’t had a mid life rehab yet, they have many
more years of service before they can be retired. Remember it’s our taxpayer money that they’re spending and replacing the buses now is a waste of our money.
But a lot of NABI 7700s units disappear, will they be back to service?
These would be great buses if they didn’t have that stupid extra in the front area “for those in wheelchairs who wish to ride backwards”. The force other people, who are not in backwards riding wheelchairs to not be able to see the front of the bus. I have, almost never, seen any wheelchair riding backwards. I say get rid of this stupid ad-on and put that space to one more seated senior of disabeled passenger and clear up our view out of the front of the bus so that we can see where we are at.