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MTA Regional Bus Operations bus fleet

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The MTA Regional Bus Operations bus fleet is a fleet of buses in fixed-route service in New York City under the "MTA New York City Bus" (also known as New York City Transit or NYCT) and "MTA Bus" brands, both of which operate local, limited, express and Select Bus Service routes.

Description and history

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The fleet consists of over 5,800 buses of various types and models for fixed-route service, making MTA RBO's fleet the largest public bus fleet in the United States.[1] The MTA also has over 2,000 vans and cabs for ADA paratransit service, providing service in New York City, southwestern Nassau County, and the city of Yonkers. All vehicles, with the exception of paratransit cabs, are fully accessible to persons with disabilities.[2][3] Fixed-route buses are dispatched from 28 garages (20 New York City Bus and 8 MTA Bus) and one annex in New York City.

Several fleet improvements have been introduced over the system's history. The first large order of air conditioned buses began service in 1966.[4] "Kneeling buses" were introduced in 1976, and wheelchair lifts began appearing in 1980.[5][4][6] Also in the 1980s, stop-request cords (or "bell cords") were replaced by yellow tape strips. However, buses ordered after 2008 feature cords rather than tape strips due to the latter's higher maintenance cost.[7] Articulated buses were introduced in 1996, and have since become prominent in the Bronx and Manhattan.[8][5] Low-floor buses, designed to speed boarding and alighting and improve riding conditions for elderly and disabled passengers, were first tested in 1997[9][10] and have made up most of the new non-express buses ordered since the early 2000s. The last non-express high-floor bus was withdrawn in 2019.[11]

Most post-2000 orders also feature stop-request buttons located on grab bars.[12] Beginning in 2016, new orders along with buses built after 2011 will be built/retrofitted with Wi-Fi connectivity and USB charging ports. In 2023, Wi-fi connectivity was removed on all buses due to low usage from passengers.[13]

Starting in 2016, efforts to bring an audio/visual system to the current and future fleet went underway to improve customer service and ADA accessibility thru use of next stop announcements & PSAs. Though the former Long Island Bus Division (now NICE Bus) had already deployed such a system throughout its fleet since the early-2000s, the MTA had only trialed similar systems alongside GPS tracking between 2007 and 2012 on select routes in the New York City Bus system. Current plans include the installation of digital information screens installed throughout the interior of the bus which will provide real-time information such as time, weather, advertisements, & service advisories.[14] The screens are supplied by contract from 3 different vendors and are installed on new bus deliveries starting in 2017 while buses built after 2008 are currently receiving retrofits. A new livery was also introduced, replacing the blue stripe livery on a white base that had been in use in one variation or another since the late 1970s. The first of these buses entered service in mid-May 2016 on the Q10 route.[15]

Buses operating on clean or alternative fuels also make up a significant portion of the fleet, particularly since the establishment of the MTA's "Clean Fuel Bus" program in June 2000.[4] Buses running compressed natural gas (CNG) were first tested in the early 1990s,[16][17] and were mass-ordered beginning in 1995.[4][16] Hybrid-electric buses, operating with a combination of diesel and electric power, were introduced in September 1998 with the Orion VI,[4][18][19] and mass-ordered beginning in 2003 with the Orion VII.[5][18] These hybrid buses proved to be useful, at least the 2006-2007 models, for these models cost significantly less to repair and maintain than earlier units.[20] As of December 2022, the fleet has over 1,100 diesel-electric buses and over 700 buses powered by compressed natural gas, which make up less than half of the total fleet.[1][21][22] This is the largest fleet of either kind in the United States.[22][23]

Zero-emission buses

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In 2017, the MTA tested a fleet of ten forty-foot battery electric buses – five from New Flyer and five from Proterra, the XE40 Xcelsior CHARGE and Catalyst BE40 models respectively. These were all leases, which expired in 2021.[24] In 2019, the MTA ordered their first battery-electric sixty-foot articulated buses, with an order of fifteen XE60 Xcelsior CHARGE buses from New Flyer, deployed on Manhattan Select Bus Service routes. In April 2021, the agency placed an RFP for forty-five new forty-foot battery-electric buses.[24] Later in 2021, the MTA awarded New Flyer the contract for the electric bus order, set to arrive in late 2022 and 2023. 15 more buses were added to the originally 45 bus contract, making for a total of 60 buses allotted for MTA NYCT.[24]

In 2022, the MTA announced that they would trial hydrogen fuel cell buses, funded by a grant from New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.[25] The first two buses (New Flyer Xcelsior CHARGE H2) will be launched in The Bronx by late 2025.[26]

The MTA announced that it would only purchase zero-emission buses from 2029, and that the entire bus fleet will be zero-emission by 2040.[27][24]

Fixed-route fleet details

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A roster of the fleet is shown below. Not included below are buses and vans not open to the general public (Access-A-Ride vans, taxicabs, and employee shuttle buses), retired buses, or demonstration buses. This list also does not include buses formerly operated by MTA Long Island Bus (now Nassau Inter-County Express) that are now operated under contract to Nassau County by Transdev.

Local, limited, & Select Bus Service vehicles

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All buses listed below have semi-low floors.[28]

Image Type Model year Length Numbers
(total) 		Amount active Energy source Operator
Orion Bus Industries
Orion VII 07.501 HEV
Next Generation 		2009-2010 40 ft (12 m) 3960–4278
4330–4702
(692 buses) 		152
retiring 		Diesel-electric hybrid MTA Bus & NYCT
BX6 1204 Nova Bus
LFS-A TL62102A
3rd Generation
Articulated 		62 ft (19 m) 1200–1289
(90 buses) 		81
retiring 		Diesel NYCT
8053 on the Q30 Nova Bus
LFS TL40102A
3rd Generation 		2011 40 ft (12 m) 8000–8089
(90 buses) 		89
7073 S76 Orion Bus Industries
Orion VII 07.501
EPA10
3rd Generation 		7000–7089
(90 buses) 		88
4851 on the B82 New Flyer
XD40 Xcelsior 		2011-2012 4810–4899
(90 buses) 		89
462 on the B68 New Flyer
C40LF Low Floor 		2011-2013 185–672
(488 buses) 		486 CNG MTA Bus & NYCT
Bx19 5956 Nova Bus
LFS-A TL62102A
1st Generation
Articulated 		62 ft (19 m) 5252–5298
5300–5363
5770–5986
(328 buses) 		328 Diesel NYCT
4713 on the B38 New Flyer
XD60 Xcelsior
Articulated 		2012-2013 60 ft (18 m) 4710–4799
(90 buses) 		89
7388 on the Q32 New Flyer
XD40 Xcelsior 		2014-2015 40 ft (12 m) 7090–7483
(394 buses) 		392 MTA Bus & NYCT
Nova Bus
LFS TL40102A
4th Generation 		2015-2016 8090–8503
(414 buses) 		412 NYCT
New Flyer
XD60 Xcelsior
Articulated 		60 ft (18 m) 5364–5438
(75 buses) 		74 MTA Bus
796 on the B68 New Flyer
XN40 Xcelsior 		2016-2017 40 ft (12 m) 673–810
(138 buses) 		135 CNG NYCT
M14 6105 New Flyer
XD60 Xcelsior
Articulated 		60 ft (18 m) 5987–6125
(139 buses) 		137 Diesel MTA Bus & NYCT
An SBS bus on the M14D Nova Bus
LFS-A TL62102A
4th Generation
Articulated 		2016-2019 62 ft (19 m) 5439–5602
(164 buses) 		163 NYCT
5571 out of service
1102 on the B35 New Flyer
XN60 Xcelsior
Articulated 		2017-2018 60 ft (18 m) 1000–1109
(110 buses) 		108 CNG
New Flyer
XD40 Xcelsior 		2017-2019 40 ft (12 m) 7484–7850
(367 buses) 		364 Diesel
9501 B54 New Flyer
XDE40 Xcelsior 		2018 9500–9509
(10 buses) 		10 Diesel-electric hybrid
Q46 8529 Nova Bus
LFS TL40102A
4th Generation 		2018-2019 8504–8754
(251 buses) 		249 Diesel
4958 on the M79 SBS New Flyer
XE60 Xcelsior CHARGE
Articulated 		2019 60 ft (18 m) 4950–4964
(15 buses)
[29] 		15 Battery electric
6191 on the M14A SBS New Flyer
XD60 Xcelsior
Articulated 		2019-2020 6126–6286
(161 buses) 		161 Diesel MTA Bus & NYCT
6271 on the Q53 SBS
6281 on the Q70 SBS
9902 on the M5 Nova Bus
LFS HEV TL40102A
4th Generation 		2020-2021 40 ft (12 m) 9620–9910
(291 buses) 		291 Diesel-electric hybrid NYCT
Nova Bus
LFS TL40102A
4th Generation 		2020-2022 8755–8963
(209 buses) 		208 Diesel
New Flyer
XDE40 Xcelsior 		2021-2022 9416–9499
9510–9619
(194 buses) 		194 Diesel-electric hybrid
7912 on the Q24 New Flyer
XD40 Xcelsior 		7851–7989
(139 buses) 		139 Diesel
8965 Q111 Nova Bus
LFS TL40102A
4th Generation 		2022-2024 8964–9271
(308 buses) 		255
under delivery 		MTA Bus
New Flyer
XD40 Xcelsior 		2023-2024 9272–9387
(116 buses) 		116
New Flyer
XE40 Xcelsior CHARGE
Next Generation 		4965–5024
(60 buses) 		44
under delivery 		Battery electric NYCT
Nova Bus
LFSe+ 		2024 5100–5104
(5 buses) 		0
under delivery

Express bus fleet

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All express buses are diesel-powered, 45 ft (14 m) long commuter coaches. All buses are high-floored.[30]

Image Type Model year Numbers
(total) 		Amount active Operator
Motor Coach Industries
D4500CL 		2004-2007 3000–3474
(475 buses) 		233
retiring 		MTA Bus
Motor Coach Industries
D4500CT 		2008 2195–2250
(56 buses) 		41
retiring 		MTA Bus & NYCT
Prevost
X3-45 Commuter
1st Generation 		2012 2400–2489
(90 buses) 		89 NYCT
Motor Coach Industries
D4500CT 		2013 2251–2304
(54 buses) 		53
2730 on the SIM4C Prevost
X3-45 Commuter
1st Generation 		2014-2016 2490–2789
(300 buses) 		299
Prevost
X3-45 Commuter
2nd Generation 		2021-2022 1300–1629
(330 buses) 		330 MTA Bus & NYCT
2025-2026 1630–1879
(250 buses) 		0
under delivery 		MTA Bus

Future bus fleet

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These are bus orders that will occur a few years into the future.

Image Type Model year Length Numbers
(total) 		Energy source Operator
New Flyer
XHE40 Xcelsior CHARGE H2 		2025 40 ft (12 m) TBA
(2 buses) 		Hydrogen fuel cell NYCT
New Flyer
XN40 Xcelsior 		TBA
(155 buses) 		CNG
Motor Coach Industries
D45 CRT LE CHARGE 		2025-2026 45 ft (14 m) TBA
(5 buses) 		Battery electric
Solaris Bus & Coach
Urbino NAe40 		40 ft (12 m) TBA
(5 buses)
New Flyer
XE60 Xcelsior CHARGE
Articulated 		2025+ 60 ft (18 m) TBA
(90 buses)
New Flyer
XD60 Xcelsior
Articulated 		TBA
(670 buses) 		Diesel
Motor Coach Industries
D45 CRT 		45 ft (14 m) TBA
(92 buses)
New Flyer
XE40 Xcelsior CHARGE
Next Generation 		40 ft (12 m) TBA
(1,130 buses) 		Battery electric MTA Bus & NYCT

References

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  1. ^ a b "MTA Capital Program Oversight Committee Meeting: January 2016" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. January 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 29, 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  2. ^ "MTA New York City Transit (NYCT)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 24, 2011.
  3. ^ "MTA Bus Company (MTABUS)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 24, 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d e "New York City Transit - History and Chronology". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on January 8, 2014. Retrieved March 12, 2007.
  5. ^ a b c Kenneth T. Jackson; Lisa Keller; Nancy Flood (December 1, 2010). The Encyclopedia of New York City: Second Edition. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-18257-6.
  6. ^ "New York City Transit Facts & Figures: 1979" (PDF). La Guardia and Wagner Archives. Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York City Transit Authority. 1979. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  7. ^ Sulzberger, A.J. (May 12, 2009). "The Return of the Bus Bell Cord". The New York Times. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  8. ^ Rein, Lisa; Ratish, Robert (October 3, 1996). "NEW BUS A REAL STRRRETCH". Daily News (New York). Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  9. ^ Rolland D. King (January 1, 1998). New Designs and Operating Experiences with Low-floor Buses. Transportation Research Board. ISBN 978-0-309-06308-1.
  10. ^ Kornblut, Anne E. (January 20, 1997). "REDESIGNED BUS MAY AID DISABLED". Daily News (New York). Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  11. ^ "MTA NYC Transit Retires Last of 1980s-Era Buses as Modernization of Fleet Continues, Providing Customers with Better, More Reliable Service". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. May 6, 2019. Archived from the original on July 15, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  12. ^ [1] "How to Ride the Bus" mta.info
  13. ^ "MTA cuts free WiFi service on city buses, cites lack of use". ny1.com. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  14. ^ "Newsday | Long Island's & NYC's News Source | Newsday".
  15. ^ "2,042 New Buses to Have Free Wi-Fi and USB Charging Ports by 2020". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. March 8, 2016. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  16. ^ a b Lowell, Dana M.; Parsley, William; Bush, Christopher; Zupo, Douglas (August 24, 2008). "Comparison of Clean Diesel Buses to CNG Buses". osti.gov. MTA New York City Transit Authority. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  17. ^ Pierre-Pierre, Garry (January 16, 1996). "Buses Using Natural Gas Do Well in Pilot Program". The New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  18. ^ a b Press Release (November 29, 2005). "Orion Hybrid/Electric Buses Are Key To Cleaner Air And Improved Economy". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on May 30, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  19. ^ Wald, Matthew L. (February 8, 1999). "Hybrid Bus Is Environmentally Friendly". The New York Times. Warren, Rhode Island. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  20. ^ "New York's hybrid buses prove their worth". New Atlas. February 7, 2008. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  21. ^ Young, Angelo (July 1, 2013). "New York City Scrapping Nearly A Fourth Of Its Hybrid Bus Engines For 100% Diesel Bus Engines". ibtimes.com. International Business Times. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  22. ^ a b "Transit & Bus Committee Meeting" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. April 23, 2018. pp. 49–50. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 16, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  23. ^ Press Release (September 5, 2008). "MTA NYC Transit Introduces New Generation Hybrid Electric Bus Into Staten Island Service". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on May 30, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  24. ^ a b c d "Transitioning to a zero-emissions bus fleet". MTA. October 13, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  25. ^ "MTA Receives Grant for First Zero-Emission Hydrogen Buses". MTA. November 16, 2022. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  26. ^ FuelCellsWorks (November 28, 2022). "MTA To Deploy Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses In The Bronx". Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  27. ^ "MTA hosts hydrogen fuel-cell bus informational". News 12 - The Bronx. Retrieved April 13, 2024. The MTA says they have committed to a zero-emission bus fleet by 2040.
  28. ^ "New York MTA (Bus) – The Insider's Guide". Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  29. ^ "MTA Deploys First All-Electric Bus Fleet to 14th Street Busway".
  30. ^ Aber, Judah (May 2016). "Electric Bus Analysis for New York City Transit" (PDF). columbia.edu. p. 8. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
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