Transpo has received the first of its 16 new compressed natural gas-powered buses. Photo provided
SOUTH BEND — The South Bend Public Transportation Corp. has received its first new bus in more than 11 years. Sixteen new buses are expected to be in service early next year, replacing 15-year-old vehicles that have reached and exceeded their useful life.
Several events are planned for public inspection, including Downtown South Bend’s Kids’ Night Out on Oct. 3, when a bus will be displayed near the former College Football Hall of Fame from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Transpo selected the New Flyer Xcelsior to replace aging buses. New Flyers are built in the United States and Transpo worked with the manufacturer to incorporate as many “Made in Indiana” components as possible, Transpo said. The vehicles are powered by compressed natural gas. That's expected to reduce maintenance and operating costs. The New Flyer is the same length, at 35 feet, as the older buses, but offers four additional seats per vehicle. The $425,000 cost was primarily funded by the Federal Transit Administration. Transpo was responsible for a 20 percent local match which came from such sources as advertising revenue and fares. Transpo did not receive any funds from the cities of South Bend and Mishawaka toward the purchase.
Transpo and the City of South Bend previously announced a partnership to build the first fast-fuel CNG facility in the region that will be open to the public in early 2015.
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