Motor Coach Industries (MCI), a U.S. subsidiary of NFI Group Inc., one of the world’s leading independent global bus manufacturers, announced that AC Transit approved the purchase of 36 of MCI’s new, more accessible D45 CRT LE commuter coaches.
The order is a result of a recent competitive procurement for up to 137 D45 CRT LE coaches, of which 50 can be procured for AC Transit’s use with the remaining 87 options being available for use by other transit authorities throughout the United States.
The newly procured D45 CRT LE coaches will operate on AC Transit’s bustling Transbay Network. Ultimately, these coaches will be the backbone of AC Transit’s efforts to eliminate commuter gridlock across three of the Bay Area’s most congested bridges.
American With Disabilities Act (ADA) and Buy America compliant, the Altoona-tested next generation MCI D45 CRT LE Commuter Coach was designed through consultation with leading advocacy groups. These groups, including the National Council on Independent Living, evaluated numerous concepts and the final prototype design.
In addition to the breakthrough accessibility, the D45 CRT LE offers plenty of horsepower for hills and highways and a shorter turning radius for improved navigation around city streets. The new model also offers enhanced interior illumination and brighter LED headlights to enhance visibility. A wider front door with an ergonomic spiral entryway also features enhanced illumination on the stairwell.
“For many riders with impairments, AC Transit is an essential lifeline to physicians, careers, and recreation. With a passenger focus, we are assembling an entirely new bus fleet that not only accommodates all riders but mobility devices as well,” said AC Transit General Manager Michael Hursh. “MCI’s new D45 CRT LE is the coach that will help revolutionize our boarding. Its middle door’s ADA ramp opens to an ingenious vestibule; eliminating stairs; quickens boarding; and provides ample space and greater independence for riders with mobility devices.”
AC Transit became the first public transit agency to test the MCI D45 CRT LE in revenue service, following the transformative model’s debut at the 2017 APTA Expo in Atlanta. MCI loaned its MCI D45 CRT LE prototype to AC Transit in December of that year as a test vehicle on several Transbay bus lines regular routes for a three-week demonstration, enabling AC Transit to solicit feedback from passengers, drivers, maintenance staff, and its accessibility committee. The pilot ran in excess of 100 trips, throughout AC Transit’s expansive service area, free of charge for all passengers in exchange for participation in an on-board survey of the MCI D45 CRT LE’s overall ridership experience. The results: 93% of riders surveyed wanted AC Transit to add the model to its fleet, giving its ride quality, comfort of seats and overhead reading lights the highest rating.
“MCI’s relationship with AC Transit spans two decades,” said Tom Wagner, MCI Vice President, Public Sector. “We were extremely honored to have AC Transit among the first to embrace the MCI D45 CRT LE’s ground-breaking new design, providing riders with a more comfortable, accessible experience.”
AC Transit is California’s third-largest bus-only transit district and the transportation of choice for nearly 170,000 riders each weekday. With two service areas traversing 364-square service mile, the district operates 151 bus lines, aboard 637 active coaches. Currently, 79 MCI Commuter Coaches serve as the backbone of AC Transit’s immensely popular Transbay service