News

Metro Transit Putting New Low-Floor MetroBus Vehicles

Dianne Williams
Director of Communications
(314) 982-1440

WHAT: New low-floor MetroBus vehicles combine the latest technologies for accessibility, passenger safety, and comfort, as well as reduce emissions from exhaust into the environment. See the new features firsthand as the first new MetroBus vehicles are put into service.

WHERE: Brentwood MetroBus Garage located at 3000 South Brentwood (just south of Manchester)

WHEN: Monday, Feb. 14, 2011, at 10:30 a.m.

MORE: John Nations, Metro President and CEO, will be joined by representatives from Paraquad, the St. Louis Agency on Aging, and the American Lung Association, to share remarks on how the new MetroBus vehicles add value to the MetroBus fleet and transit services, offer greatly improved accessibility for many passengers, and benefit the environment. Metro will demonstrate how some of the new features will benefit passengers and you’ll be invited to board one of the new MetroBus vehicles for a quick spin to see the new vehicles in action.

The new buses will replace part of the bus fleet Metro put on the street as part of the transit service restoration that was completed last November. Funding for the newest additions to the MetroBus fleet comes from a $3 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration for transit vehicle replacement. The vehicle replacement program in St. Louis is geared toward replacing vehicles in the MetroBus fleet as they reach 15 years in service.

Metro is taking delivery of 50 of new vehicles this year and another 50 next year. All new MetroBus vehicles are equipped with low floors with wheelchair ramps and kneeling features making it easier and safer for passengers to board.

The vehicles have the latest technology to show the current location of every new MetroBus which not only is a safety and efficiency feature but also becomes a better planning tool for determining how long it takes to run a route at different times of the day and night.