NJ Transit Buys $65M Fleet Of Gargantuan Buses

Those giant, 60-foot buses that roam the streets of the Garden State? Expect to see a brand-new fleet of them by the end of 2020, NJ Transit announced Wednesday.

On Jan. 16, NJ Transit’s board of directors approved a $65.8 million contract with New Flyer of America for the purchase of 85 “articulated buses.” The purchase – which also allows 5% for “contingencies” – will replace the agency’s current articulated fleet, which has been chugging along for more than 15 years.

The contract will be funded through a combination of Federal Transit Administration funds and Transportation Trust Funds, NJ Transit stated.

Officials expect that the fleet swap will be complete by the end of 2020.

Articulated buses – which have two segments permanently attached to each other through a pivot point – have an advantage when negotiating sharp turns and urban traffic. The specialized buses are used on routes where “ridership levels warrant the use of higher capacity vehicles,” NJ Transit officials said.

The new fleet will have some modern amenities, officials said:

“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.”

“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,” Executive Director Kevin Corbett said.

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Photo: NJ Transit