DC government awards contract for 26 new clean diesel buses

Left to right: Mayor Muriel Bowse,; D.C. Councilmember Mary Cheh; Paul Smith, New Flyer executive vice president of sales and marketing; DDOT Deputy Director Jeff Marootian; D.C. Councilmember and WMATA Chair Jack Evans; and DDOT Director Leif Dormsjo.

The government of the District of Columbia has awarded New Flyer of America Inc a contract for 26 New Flyer Xcelsior® clean diesel powered, 40ft heavy-duty buses.

Left to right: Mayor Muriel Bowse; D.C. Councilmember Mary Cheh; Paul Smith, New Flyer executive vice president of sales and marketing; DDOT Deputy Director Jeff Marootian; D.C. Councilmember and WMATA Chair Jack Evans; and DDOT Director Leif Dormsjo

New Flyer of America Inc. (‘New Flyer’), is the U.S. subsidiary of New Flyer Industries Inc. (the ‘Company’), the largest transit bus and motor coach manufacturer and parts distributor in North America, with fabrication, manufacturing, distribution and service centers across America and employing over 5,400 team members.

“We are proud to continue building our relationship through bus fleet replacement with the Government of DC,” stated Paul Smith, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for New Flyer of America. “New Flyer looks forward to helping drive the nation’s capital forward with reliability, sustainability and clean energy in mind, and supporting millions of visitors to explore Washington each year.”

The New Flyer Xcelsior® model buses are manufactured in the United States, use clean diesel technology to drastically reduce harmful particulate emissions, and offer the greatest passenger economy.

“In a city as busy as ours, we all know how important reliability, convenience, and affordability are,” added Washington DC’s Mayor, Muriel Bowser. “These new Circulator buses will allow us to provide improved transportation services to both residents and visitors, and with this greener, more modern fleet of buses on the road, we are building a safer, stronger, and more sustainable DC.”

The new buses were sourced specifically for their emissions-reducing technology. In addition, riders will experience added amenities, such as operator-controlled air conditioning, automated stop announcements, improved real-time bus arrival accuracy, dual-screen infotainment systems (i.e. digital displays that provide real-time information), and USB ports.

All of the buses have technology to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety and have been manufactured to take advantage of future technology deployments, including on-board Wi-Fi and rear-door boarding.

A second wave of buses, expected to enter service in late fall 2017, includes 14 buses that run on 100 percent battery-electric propulsion.