For Immediate Release
March 22, 2017
MARTA Rolls Out 30-Foot Buses for Enhanced Neighborhood Service
'Vicinity’ Buses Offer
Increased Service Options
ATLANTA— The Metropolitan
Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) will roll out
ten, 30-ft buses, offering right-sized service to neighborhoods with narrow and
challenging roadways.
The
recently purchased ‘Vicinity’ buses will allow MARTA to better navigate
Community Circulator routes located throughout MARTA’s service area. The first communities to see the new buses
will include Belvedere, Boulder Park and Lovejoy and will expand “last mile
connectivity.” Additionally, the new vehicles
will also be used on routes with lighter ridership, such as Routes 56 and 192,
until additional Community Circulator routes are introduced.
The
superior turn radius, light curb weight, increased gas mileage and reduced
cabin capacity makes the 30-ft bus option ideal for traveling narrow roads
while adequately addressing ridership demands. The new Vicinity buses, which
seat 23 passengers and two on-board mobility aids, will replace both the full-size
and repurposed Mobility buses, which currently serve MARTA’s Community
Circulator routes.
“We
are committed to creating more efficient transportation options for our
customers. That means building a more highly layered, customized service model,”
said MARTA GM/CEO Keith Parker. “These new Vicinity vehicles allow our bus
operators to travel safely into neighborhoods where our standard fleet could
not easily navigate while offering more space than our current Mobility bus
options.”
The
new buses, which are manufactured by Grande West Transportation and distributed
locally by College Park-based Alliance Bus Group, are scheduled to be in
service during the month of April.
MARTA’s 30-ft Bus Routes
Route
800-Lovejoy/Justice Center
Route
823-Belvedere/Decatur
Route
865-Boulder Park (*new route*)
Route 56-Adamsville
Route 192-Justice
Center/Tara Blvd./Old Dixie Rd.
MARTA’s new ‘Vicinity’ buses are shorter than the fleet’s
standard 40-ft buses. The new buses can better navigate narrow roads and
Community Circulator routes while seating 23 passengers.
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Contact:
Erik Burton