By Daniel Brock
dbrock@scbiznews.com
Published July 14, 2010

The Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority has rolled out the first of 11 new environmentally friendly buses that will replace about a third of its aging fleet.

The vehicles, which came with a $4.8 million price tag, were paid for with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. Agency officials rode alongside regular passengers on Wednesday during one of the buses’ inaugural runs.

The new buses are powered by low-sulfur, clean diesel that will mean a carbon emissions reduction of about 90% compared to older models, officials said. The additions mark the first time CARTA has updated its fleet since purchasing buses from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

CARTA Executive Director Howard Chapman said the new buses, for which the contract was signed in August, offer numerous improvements over the current fleet, which he said has outlived its shelf life.

“They’re more user-friendly,” Chapman said.

The buses, 2010 models built by Canada-based New Flyer Industries Inc., have larger windows, lower floors for easier access, more handrails and stanchions for standing passengers, and handicap ramps instead of time-consuming lifts, according to Chapman.

Touch-to-open back doors, powerful air conditioning, fluorescent overhead lights and a hydraulics system that allows the bus to tilt toward boarding passengers are other notable features.

“It’s cooler, roomier, more comfortable, and has a better view,” said Reginia George, who was riding Route 102 with her grandson. She said she often uses CARTA and was enjoying the new vehicles, but wondered if they would speed up service.

Chapman said he didn’t “think there was a question” that operations would run more smoothly, primarily because newer equipment offers easier access and fewer breakdowns.

In fact, the buses are already ahead of schedule. CARTA officials didn’t expect the vehicles to be put into service until September, but extra capacity in the manufacturing industry sped up the process, according to Christine Wilkinson, the CARTA transit administrator.

“That’s laser-fast,” she said.

Wilkinson added that nailing down details on everything — colors, grill types, electrical components and more — led to thousands of e-mails during the assembly process.

“It’s more like building a house than a car,” she said.

The vehicles fit 29 seated passengers and 17 standing. After being fitted with fare boxes and other equipment, all 11 of the new buses will be on the road within the next few weeks. They’ll rotate through the CARTA route system.

Reach Daniel Brock at 843-849-3144.