MBTA Purchases Dozens of New, High Capacity Buses

BOSTON – The MBTA's Fiscal and Management Control Board has approved the purchase of 44, sixty-foot long buses for the Silver Line and other high volume bus routes. The diesel hybrid buses will replace the existing CNG-powered buses that began serving the Silver Line in 2003.

The existing fleet of 60-foot long, articulated buses is approaching the end of its useful life, and needs to be replaced. "Delivery of the new buses will begin next summer and continue through the winter of 2016/17 until the 44th and final bus arrives," said MBTA General Manager Frank DePaola.

Under the contract approved unanimously by the Fiscal and Management Control Board, New Flyer, Inc. will be paid $52.6 million to manufacture and deliver the low-floor buses that will serve Silver Line-Washington Street and MBTA Bus Routes 39 and 28.

"The Silver Line is the MBTA's busiest bus route, providing direct service between Dudley Square and Downtown Boston" said General Manager DePaola . "These new vehicles will help us ensure the delivery of reliable and safe service to thousands of daily bus riders."

For more information, visit MassDOT at our website: www.mass.gov/massdot blog: http://blog.mass.gov/transportation/, or follow MassDOT on twitter at https://twitter.com/MassDOT and Facebook at www.facebook.com/massdotinfo.

Contact:
MassDOT Press Office: 857-368-8500