The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) has exercised options for 89 additional New Flyer 40-foot Xcelsior heavy-duty buses powered by compressed natural gas.

These buses will be built using options converted from the contract announced in June, 2013. The contract included 88 firm orders and options for an additional 177 40-foot Xcelsior buses. Once this second order is complete, 88 options will remain on the contract and will remain recorded in New Flyer total backlog.

“We continue to offer safe, affordable and reliable transit service to our customers throughout Atlanta and surrounding cities,” said MARTA Chief Operations Officer Rich Krisak. “Having transported more than 3.5 billion people in the last 25 years, MARTA is committed to our customers and understands the need for sustainable transportation. We are excited for these additional New Flyer buses and look forward to putting them into active service.”

“MARTA’s commitment to environmentally friendly natural gas and their aggressive bus fleet renewal efforts proves why they are amongst the leading transit agencies in the United States, providing more than 62 million passenger trips per year,” said Paul Soubry, President and CEO of New Flyer. “Since 1990, New Flyer has built and delivered over 1,000 transit buses for MARTA in a number of models, lengths and powered by various propulsion systems. This option conversion for 89 additional buses just seven months after the initial order reflects well on the quality of our product and the strong partnership that we have developed with MARTA.”

The buses are anticipated to begin production in the first quarter of 2014. All buses are expected to be delivered in the third quarter of 2014.