Indiana’s South Bend Public Transportation Corp. (Transpo) received the first new bus in over 11 years at the Emil “Lucky” Renzik Administration, Maintenance and Operations Facility. There will be a total of 16 new fixed-route buses to replace 15-year old vehicles that have reached and exceeded their useful life.

Transpo selected the New Flyer Xcelsior to replace the aging Gillig Phantoms and low-floor buses. The bus is built in the U.S. and Transpo worked with New Flyer to utilize as many “Made in Indiana” components as possible. A complete list of Indiana suppliers is included in the attached vehicle overview.

The new buses are powered by compressed natural gas (CNG). The New Flyer Xcelsior is the same length, at 35 feet, as the older buses, but offers four additional seats per vehicle and features a sleek, contemporary look representing the connectivity that Transpo provides throughout South Bend and Mishawaka.

Transpo and the City of South Bend previously announced a partnership to build the first fast-fuel CNG facility in the region that will be open to the public. Transpo expects to break ground on the new facility later this year which will be located on their current property. The fueling center is expected to be operational in early 2015.

Transpo expects to have all 16 new buses on property by the end of year. Once the vehicles are on site, inspections will be completed, equipment installed, and operator and maintenance training will take place. The buses should be ready to go into service in early 2015.