ARBOC Specialty Vehicles LLC, a U.S. subsidiary of NFI Group Inc., announced that Ozark Regional Transit (ORT) in Arkansas has received an order for 40 low-floor, medium-duty Spirit of Equess transit buses.

The order, which will enhance ORT's 100% accessible fleet, was secured through ARBOC’s U.S. dealer Creative Bus Sales.

“ARBOC is proud to provide fully accessible, low-floor buses to Northwest Arkansas and, we look forward to working with CBS and ORT as they improve mobility in this region,” said Don Roberts, president of ARBOC. “We are proudly dedicated to leading the progression of equal access for everyone throughout North America. This award is our first order for the new Equess medium-duty bus model.”

With a 1:6 ramp slope and 39-inch door opening for passengers, the non-kneeling cutaway Equess exceeds the Americans with Disabiltities Act guidelines. The order will also replace 20 ORT buses destroyed in a fire last year, and will supplement existing low-floor cutaway buses in the fleet.

“The Equess fits the characteristics of streets in the communities we serve,” said Joel Gardner, executive director of ORT. “Keys to providing fixed-route services in some areas are based on the overall length, width and turning radius of the vehicles. The Equess meets those needs very well. ARBOC has proven itself to be an excellent provider of transit vehicles and, in this case, can provide us with the delivery timeline we needed.”

Ozark Regional Transit delivers over 300,000 trips annually with 12 fixed routes throughout northwest Arkansas, including the cities of Fayetteville, Springdale, Bentonville, and Rogers.