Chicago’s Pace Suburban Bus awarded Motor Coach Industries (MCI) a contract for 13 MCI Commuter Coaches with an option for 37 more.

Pace will use the new coaches to replace older buses and those leased from MCI on its popular “Bus on Shoulder” service, which debuted in 2011 between Chicago and the Southwest suburbs.

Pace recently announced it is increasing service on its Bus on Shoulder routes due to the dramatic ridership increases. The program, which began in 2011, currently uses 14 MCI Commuter Coach buses on the Interstate Highway 55 shoulder when traffic in regular lanes is flowing at less than 35 miles per hour.

Built to offer maximum performance and safety at highway speeds, the MCI Commuter Coaches feature plush, forward-facing seats along with individual temperature controls and reading lights, and a smooth ride for a tour-level riding experience that transcends typical transit.

The new coaches come equipped with wheelchair lifts and clean-diesel engine technology for near-zero emissions. Pace is also adding optional security cameras, special Bus on Shoulder graphics and “do not follow” warnings on the back of the bus. 

Additionally, York County, Penn.’s rabbittransit took delivery of three new MCI Commuter Coaches.  

One of the new coaches is the first to feature an EMP electrical cooling system rather than the standard belt-driven fan system designed to cool the engine. The EMP system is common on many transit buses. The agency has agreed to assist MCI in tracking data and fuel usage to compare the efficiency of both systems.  

The agency is adding all three new coaches to its rabbitEXPRESS service.

The agency’s new Commuter Coaches are wheelchair-lift-equipped and come with plush, forward-facing seats along with individual temperature controls, LED reading lights, 110-volt outlets and Wi-Fi connectivity. 

Meanwhile, Sun Travel Trailways, based in Beaumont, Texas, has taken delivery of its very first MCI J4500, selecting the model for its eye appeal and dependability. The new J4500 brings Sun Travel’s mixed-model fleet, including four MCI D-Series models, to 13 coaches.

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