New Jersey Transit announced on Wednesday its board of directors has approved the purchase of 25 new 60-foot articulated buses.
The buses will be funded through a Federal Transit Administration grant for $17.275 million awarded to NJ Transit in November 2019, along with matching funds from the agency to bring total cost to $19.6 million.
The purchase will put into effect options from a contract with New Flyer of America, previously approved in January 2019 to replace NJ Transit’s existing fleet with 85 60-foot articulated buses. Included in the contract was the option to purchase up to 85 additional buses, which NJ Transit will exercise with these 25.
“NJ Transit is committed to not just improving our bus service, but also expanding our bus fleet with modern, comfortable equipment for our customers,” Kevin Corbett, CEO and president of NJ Transit, said. “The addition of 25 high-capacity buses to our fleet will mean more flexibility in scheduling and adjusting routes, allowing us to not just increase capacity but also respond to changing ridership trends.”
This marks the first increase in fleet size in more than a decade, NJ Transit said.
Articulated buses consist of two segments permanently attached to each other through a pivot point which allows for them to navigate urban traffic and sharp turns. The new buses will feature low flooring, wheelchair ramps, camera systems, USB charging ports, bike ramps, an improved intercom system and LED lighting.
Currently, there are two prototype buses in service and NJ Transit said it will be receiving three to four buses a week starting in April through October. They will serve the following routes in Hudson and Bergen counties:
- No. 123 Jersey City/Union City;
- No. 126 Hoboken;
- No. 128 North Bergen/Boulevard East;
- No. 156 Englewood Cliffs/Fort Lee;
- No. 158 Fort Lee/Edgewater;
- No. 159 Fort Lee.
