In response to high ridership demand along the Otay Mesa border area, the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) purchased and started operating large 60-foot articulated buses to supplement standard 40-foot buses during peak commute hours on Routes 905 and 950. The first articulated bus began operations last week, and a total of 10 will be introduced in the coming month for service in the South Bay area.

“Ridership between Otay Mesa and the Iris Avenue Transit Center has grown significantly since Route 950 began as a pilot in 2013,” said MTS CEO Paul Jablonski. “Providing articulated buses for these routes is a great example of how MTS adapts to market demands.”

The new 2017 XN60 low-floor buses manufactured by New Flyer, allow MTS to increase its capacity to transport riders along popular routes in the South Bay. The new buses will nearly double the number of passengers carried to about 100, allowing the agency provide extra seating and more comfortable rides.

MTS operates 95 bus routes and three Trolley lines on 53 miles of double-tracked railway. Every weekday more than 280,000 passenger trips are taken on MTS bus and Trolley services in 10 cities and the county. In FY 2017, MTS served more than 88 million riders.