Miami-Dade County officials voted unanimously Tuesday to award Optima Bus Corp. a five-year contract worth $178 million to build 300 Opus 30-foot low-floor buses. The contract includes an option for 300 additional buses. Delivery of the buses will begin in October. Officials said 115 buses will be delivered by the end of March 2007. "The appearance of the bus requested by Miami-Dade Transit is completely new and fresh," said Optima CEO Michael Monteferrante. "The Opus already had the reputation of having a futuristic appearance, and this new look will be something that the transit industry has never seen before." Monteferrante added that the contract will help to create a minimum of 70 new jobs at Optima in the next six months.
Miami-Dade Transit awards $178 million contract to Optima Bus Corp.
Wichita, Kan.-based manufacturer will build 300 Opus low-floor buses under five-year contract.

Michael Monteferrante, CEO of Optima Bus Corp., said the award of a $178 million contract to Optima to build 300 30-foot buses "represents a new era for the company and Miami-Dade Transit."
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