Calif.’s Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) awarded New Flyer a contract for six Xcelsior® compressed natural gas (CNG) 40-foot, heavy-duty transit buses (six equivalent units), which will be converted from New Flyer’s option backlog to the firm order backlog.

The buses will be used on OCTA’s Bravo! 529 Rapid Bus Service, which is Orange County’s rapid bus service that skips stops to decrease commute time. OCTA is using Low Carbon Transit Operations Program funds and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program funds to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote ridership growth by enhancing service along these routes using low-emission, CNG buses on the Bravo! express service schedule.

“New Flyer is thrilled to support Orange County Transportation Authority with expanding its low-emission transit on the Bravo! service,” said Wayne Joseph, president, New Flyer of America. “As OCTA works toward its 2021 vision that focuses on sustainability, reliability, operational excellence, value, and innovative leadership in transportation, New Flyer will be there every step of the way to help build a stronger community and protecting the surrounding environment.”

OCTA serves 34 cities and unincorporated areas of Orange County, covering transportation within the state’s third-largest county. OCTA operates 62 different bus routes with 5,500 stops, supporting over 40 million passengers per year.