Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

This step makes the first major expansion of the Baltimore region’s transit network since the early 1990’s eligible for future federal approvals and funding.

The pace bus is one of 215 hybrid diesel-electric buses purchased by the MTA. That number will grow by 53 in the next year following Gov. Martin O’Malley’s approval of the purchase of additional hybrids and a commitment to convert the entire MTA fleet to hybrids.

The new buses feature ergonomic passenger seating, an advanced video surveillance system, wider exit doors, LED lighting, and tip-in windows for improved air circulation and passenger safety. The first of this latest round of hybrid buses will be on the street in September 2012, with the final bus scheduled for delivery February 2013.

The light rail line, expected to be completed in 2020, will carry 57,000 riders per day in 2030 and cost approximately $1.8 billion in Year 2010 dollars. Accounting for inflation, the cost is approximately $2.2 billion.

Falls Road Light Rail station improvements include increasing parking capacity from 97 spaces to 197 spaces as well as new lighting, landscaping and signs.

With the approval of two contracts totaling nearly $20 million, the Maryland Transit Administration will soon begin improvements to the Baltimore Metro Subway by overhauling train wheel assemblies and installing a new public address system at stations.