Motor Coach Industries (MCI), a subsidiary of New Flyer Industries Inc., announced that the NJ TRANSIT board of directors authorized an option to purchase an additional 332 MCI 45-foot Commuter Coaches at an estimated value of $166 million.

In July 2015, MCI and NJ TRANSIT signed a public transit contract for 772 new commuter coaches to operate on New Jersey’s roads and highways. This additional board authorization now increases the total number of approved options contract to 1,104 over the next six years, with a total value of approximately $561 million.

MCI is in the process of delivering three pilot buses to NJ TRANSIT, and following a successful in-service evaluation and funding approval, a purchase order is expected for the first-year production.

The new 57-seat coaches will be Wi-Fi ready, seatbelt-equipped, compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and deliver reduced exhaust emissions as required by the latest Clean Air Act amendment.

“The MCI Commuter Coach provides a high level of reliability and enhanced passenger riding comfort for NJ TRANSIT, and we’re proud the agency has once again called on us to assist with rejuvenating their fleet,” said Patrick Scully, MCI executive VP, sales and marketing. “As passenger demographics continue to change and passengers look for an upscale ridership experience, MCI will be there to supply the latest safety technology with enhanced in-cabin amenities that draw ridership. Whether it’s bus rapid transit, extended suburban service or traditional routes inside the city center, MCI is here to help NJ TRANSIT grow their routes.”

MCI`s Commuter Coach features a rugged semi-monocoque structure that elevates passengers and drivers above traffic and offers dynamic safety features, low total cost of operation and excellent mean distance between failures performance.

MCI won its first contract with NJ TRANSIT for 700 MC-9 cruiser buses in 1982, with the agency purchasing an additional 415 in 1987. In 2000, the agency awarded MCI the largest public transit order in North American bus-industry history with a 1,400 vehicle contract intended to improve service to outlying city and expanding suburban areas throughout the state.