NJ TRANSIT BOARD APPROVES PURCHASE OF 85 ARTICULATED BUSES
January 16, 2019
NEWARK, NJ — NJ TRANSIT’s Board of Directors today approved a contract with New Flyer of America for the purchase of 85 articulated buses. The purchase allows the retirement of the current articulated fleet which has been in revenue service for more than 15 years.
Articulated buses are 60 feet long and consist of two segments permanently attached to each other through a pivot point which allows them to negotiate urban traffic and sharp turns.
“This purchase allows NJ TRANSIT to continue retiring our older buses in the fleet, which increases mechanical reliability and ultimately helps us better serve our customers with improved on-time performance and important customer amenities such as USB charging ports on the seats,’’ said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Kevin Corbett. “As we continue to restore NJ TRANSIT to national prominence, an improved customer experience is the hallmark of that effort. By having our buses spend more time on the road and less time in the shop, customers will notice these improvements at bus stops across New Jersey.”
This purchase is a “one for one,’’ replacement of NJ TRANSIT’s aging articulated bus fleet as it reaches the end of its expected service life.
It is anticipated that the first vehicle delivery will take approximately 8 months from Notice to Proceed, and the final vehicle will be delivered by the end of 2020. Total cost for this purchase is $65.8 million plus five-percent for contingencies.
The articulated buses feature low flooring, which allows customers to embark and disembark more quickly, wheelchair ramps and camera systems to improve customer security and ensure bus operators are better informed of their surroundings. New customer amenities include USB charging ports, bicycle racks, an improved intercom system and LED lighting.
NJ TRANSIT directly operates and contracts bus services that carry 154.5 million customer trips (FY17 data) throughout New Jersey and to New York City and Philadelphia. Articulated buses are used on routes where ridership levels warrant the use of higher capacity vehicles.
Request for Proposals (RFP) went out in August 2018 for the base order of 85 articulated buses with an option to purchase 85 additional articulated buses.
This contract will be funded through a combination of Federal Transit Administration funds and Transportation Trust Funds.
About NJ TRANSIT
NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 944,000 weekday trips on 251 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines and through Access Link paratransit service. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 165 rail stations, 62 light rail stations and more than 19,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.