All-electric articulated buses hit New York City streets

MTA’s New York City Transit deployed the first of its new all-electric articulated bus fleet on one of the city’s busiest crosstown routes — the 14th Street busway — as part of the agency’s plan to enhance and modernize the bus fleet with zero-emissions technology that will deliver environmental benefits for all New Yorkers.

The all-electric articulated bus represents the first of approximately 500 electric buses that will be purchased as part of the historic 2020-2024 Capital Plan and will serve all five boroughs.

The new electric articulated buses represent the next generation of MTA buses, just months after its iconic blue-and-white RTS buses were retired from service after nearly 40 years. The MTA currently operates a fleet of 10 electric standard buses, which are leased for a three-year pilot program to test the all-electric technology for capability and durability of around-the-clock four-season usage. In January 2019, the MTA Board approved the purchase of 15 all-electric articulated buses, 16 in-depot chargers, and one mobile charging unit from New Flyer. The delivery of the first wave of the 15 buses is scheduled for completion in March 2020 with an incentive for earlier delivery. These 15 buses will be deployed on the crosstown M14 route SBS, which serves more than 30,000 weekday customers and provides a crucial transit link and alternate l Project service to thousands of customers.

The 2020-2024 Capital Plan accelerates the transition to a fleet composed fully of zero-emissions electric buses. The MTA plans to invest $1.1 billion to modify depots for electric bus operations, and to purchase 500 electric buses, including replacement buses and some additional buses. The program enables the MTA to acquire only electric buses beginning in 2029. Future all-electric buses will be deployed in neighborhoods across the five boroughs, after depots are upgraded to accommodate the new technology.

MTA New York City Transit’s Fast Forward plan to modernize the subway and bus networks builds upon transit’s existing efforts to improve environmental sustainability and resiliency by proposing to add more electric buses to the fleet across the entire city. NYC Transit recently issued a Request for Proposals for a base order of 45 standard electric buses that will be put into service in all five boroughs upon delivery beginning April 2021 through the end of 2021.

Other bus service initiatives to improve service and speed up rides include redesigning every borough’s bus route network, implementing automated bus lane enforcement on fleet vehicles and streets, working with the New York City Department of Transportation to prioritize transit, and collaborating with NYPD to enforce bus lanes.