Columbus’ Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) awarded New Flyer a new contract for 154 Xcelsior® compressed natural gas (CNG) 40-foot, heavy-duty transit buses (154 equivalent units) over the next five years.

The contract includes 28 firm orders with options to purchase an additional 126 CNG 40-foot, heavy-duty transit buses, which will replace end-of-life vehicles with more efficient CNG buses over the next five years. The purchase was supported by local, state, and Federal Transit Administration funding.

The Central Ohio Transit Authority serves greater Columbus and central Ohio, covering 1.2 million residents and providing more than 18 million passenger trips annually. In 2013, COTA made the commitment to move its entire fleet to compressed natural gas within 12 years, and in 2017 introduced its newly redesigned route network featuring more frequent service, and better connections to more destinations, seven days a week.

In 2018, COTA introduced CMAX, Central Ohio’s first Bus Rapid Transit line, and is investing in infrastructure and technology upgrades to improve transit service and the customer experience.

“New Flyer is proud to support the Central Ohio Transit Authority with expanding its low-emission bus fleet in pursuit of sustainable and connected transportation,” said Wayne Joseph, president, New Flyer of America. “COTA has proven itself a visionary in the development of future mobility, and we are thrilled to participate in defining the cities of the future alongside the growing community of greater Columbus and central Ohio, and the talent in transportation and technology in the region.”

In 2018, New Flyer committed to leading collaboration, cooperation, and the technological advancement of Smart Mobility in North America. It also became a signatory of the Shared Mobility Principles for Livable Cities, which facilitates collaboration in developing multimodal, integrated cities through technology-driven innovation. For information on Shared Mobility Principles, click here.