Saint John Transit’s fleet is now fully accessible with the arrival of 12 brand new 40-foot long buses which have all been licensed and have hit the city’s roadways.
Quebec-based bus manufacturer Nova Bus won the contract to supply the buses which are equipped with Real-Time Passenger Information System technology and have been built to standards of the ADA, or, the American with Disabilities Act.
CEO Ian MacKinnon says the rule of thumb in the transit industry is that the average age of your fleet is around 9 years and the city’s fleet was creeping up to the 11-year mark.
“What happens when that happens is our maintenance costs go up, so having 12 new buses to replace older, antiquated technology is a real financial benefit as well as features, and functionality and safety and all the things that go along with that,” says MacKinnon.
The Regional Development Corporation, by way of the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund, provided $3.3-million which was matched by the city. MacKinnon says each bus came at a cost of $525,000.
