Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

New models come equipped with three-point passenger seat belts, wheelchair lifts, Wi-Fi, 110-volt and power outlets, GPS and Saucon Asset Tracking systems. Electronic stability control, SmarTire and a fire suppression system are standard safety features.

Today’s public transit vehicles are significantly more advanced than automobiles in their ability to run on clean fuels. For instance, buses on the road powered by alternative fuels rose from 2% in 1992 to 36% in 2011. That compares to the percentage of cars capable of being powered by alternative fuels was only 3.2% in 2011.

Center includes four bus shelters with a total of 140 seats, informational boards, a landscaped bicycle and pedestrian path, and a bus layover area under the parking garage for the new Joint Traffic Management Center now under design.

Prior to departing, Rep. Joe Walsh toured the latest editions of MCI's D4500 Commuter and J4500 touring coaches.

The "Bus Uniform Standards and Enhanced Safety (BUSES) Act of 2011" to increase safety and strengthen the U.S. DOT's oversight and ability to set uniform safety standards on new and existing buses and motorcoaches.

Transit program is receiving $1.26 million in stimulus funding, most of which will be spent to procure three new buses at a cost of about $332,000 each, for a total of $996,000.

Agency will begin two environmental assessments, which will look at expanding its rail service into new communities, and is buying 25 new bi-level passenger railcars from Bombardier.

Others present included Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN); Transportation Secretary Raymond LaHood; Education Secretary Arne Duncan; Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan; Agriculture Secretary Kenneth Vilsack, and former U.S. Vice President Walter Mondale.