There are four transit buses with new life in the Davenport, Iowa CitiBus Transit System thanks to a partnership with Midwest Bus Corp.

Davenport’s 35-foot, low-floor Gillig buses went through an overhaul that included rebuilding or replacing almost every mechanical aspect of each bus, with the exception of engines or transmissions. The rebuilding program also included a total interior and exterior renovation, including new floor coverings, seat inserts, exterior panels as required, and interior and exterior paint. New EMP electric cooling assemblies were also included.

“The buses rehabbed by Midwest Bus Corporation will be used on a shuttle funded by the Departments of Transportation for both Iowa and Illinois during the construction of a new I-74 bridge that crosses the Mississippi,” said John Powell, transit operations director for the City of Davenport. “Midwest was able to meet our expectations and the new service is scheduled to start Dec. 3, 2018.”

The CitiBus Transit System’s bus routes cover approximately 30 square miles of the city, with numerous schools, shopping centers, hospitals/medical centers, local businesses, and tourist attractions within easy walking distance of most CitiBus routes. The new shuttle will operate two different routes, bringing the total number of routes operated by CitiBus to 12.

“The purpose of the shuttle is to help relieve traffic over the existing I-74 bridge during the height of construction. Given the relatively short operating window (about 15 months), it was important to rehab our buses as economically as possible,” Powell said.