Milw. Co. Transit System adds 55 new clean diesel buses

MILWAUKEE (WITI) --  The first of the 55 new clean diesel buses have arrived and will be in service soon. On Wednesday, June 12 at noon, MCTS will have the Xcelsior bus on display at the Milwaukee County Courthouse (901 N. 10th Street) for viewing.

New clean diesel buses will make up the majority of the MCTS fleet. The added buses along with the 180 new clean diesel buses purchased between 2010 and 2012 will total 235 of 420 buses. The vehicles emit 80% less particulate matter, 95% less oxides of nitrogen and 88% less non-methane hydrocarbons than the older buses they replace.

The Milwaukee area will benefit from improved air quality and lower emissions along with several other improvements. The buses will have an exciting new design. Made by the same manufacturer, New Flyer, the new Xcelsior model has some added features:

Funding for the 2013 bus purchase comes from remaining Interstate Cost Estimate Substitute (ICE) funds and a local match.

MCTS tries to replace buses every twelve years or those driven more than 500,000 miles. Older buses are taken out of service when new buses are added to the fleet. Additionally, you will notice MCTS is repainting older model buses that still have a service life to create a unified look. Eighty-one older buses have been repainted to date.