AC Transit adding 36 MCI accessibility-friendly commuter coaches

AC Transit approved the purchase of 36 new MCI D45 CRT LE commuter coaches. The order is a result of a recent competitive procurement for up to 137 D45 CRT LE coaches, of which 50 can be procured for AC Transit’s use with the remaining 87 options being available for use by other transit authorities throughout the U.S.

The newly procured D45 CRT LE coaches will operate on AC Transit’s bustling Transbay Network. Ultimately, the coaches will be the backbone of AC Transit’s efforts to eliminate commuter gridlock across three of the Bay Area’s most congested bridges.

ADA- and Buy America-compliant, the Altoona-tested next generation MCI D45 CRT LE Commuter Coach was designed through consultation with leading advocacy groups. The groups, including the National Council on Independent Living, evaluated numerous concepts and the final prototype design.

In addition to the breakthrough accessibility, the D45 CRT LE offers plenty of horsepower for hills and highways and a shorter turning radius for improved navigation around city streets. The new model also offers enhanced interior illumination and brighter LED headlights to enhance visibility. A wider front door with an ergonomic spiral entryway also features enhanced illumination on the stairwell.

AC Transit became the first public transit agency to test the MCI D45 CRT LE in-revenue service, following the transformative model’s debut at the 2017 APTA Expo in Atlanta. MCI loaned its MCI D45 CRT LE prototype to AC Transit in December of that year as a test vehicle on several Transbay bus lines regular routes for a three-week demonstration, enabling AC Transit to solicit feedback from passengers, drivers, maintenance staff, and its accessibility committee. The pilot ran in excess of 100 trips, throughout AC Transit’s expansive service area, free of charge for all passengers in exchange for participation in an on-board survey of the MCI D45 CRT LE’s overall ridership experience. The results: 93% of riders surveyed wanted AC Transit to add the model to its fleet, giving its ride quality, comfort of seats, and overhead reading lights a high rating.