Today, the City of Wichita brought home the first arrival of the new fleet of buses to the City's transit system. The new buses are five Chance Coach Opus low-floor buses and two new trolleys built and designed by Chance Coach in Wichita. City Councilmembers were the first official passengers, riding them back to City Hall.
Men working on Opus bus. |
"The City of Wichita is pleased to launch a new era in public transportation for our City – an era that continues to focus on our citizens but will also concentrate on comfort and convenience," said Mayor Bob Knight. "Wichita's transit system is a key to this community and we are pleased to be able get such quality right here in Wichita, designed and built by Chance Coach."
Currently, Wichita's fleet consists of 51 buses and 26 ADA vans. The buses average 15.5 years. The maximum expected life is 10-12 years, according to Federal Transit Administration (FTA) capital replacement guidelines. The replacement of these buses, scheduled for completion by summer 2002, will help lower operating costs and provide more reliable service. The new buses will use cleaner burning diesel fuel and provide more comfort, safety and style to the City's streets.
Interior of Opus bus. |
The Opus buses feature a low-floor style that offers easier access for passengers with a low step up. They seat 27 passengers, or 21 passengers with 2 wheel chairs. The Opus cost $232,211 each. The City of Wichita used federal funds to provide the financing for 80% of the cost, while the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) provided the remaining 20%.
Chance Coach, Inc. is an independent company that was formerly a division of Chance Industries, Inc. until March 1998. It is now owned by American Capital Strategies and has over 180 employees. It is now recognized in the transit industry as a leader in innovative bus and trolley design. Their best sellers include the revolutionary new design of the Opus low-floor, the nostalgic American Heritage Streetcar and the RT-52 heavy-duty small transit bus.
The City of Wichita provides transportation for over 2 million passengers and 210,000 disabled passengers each year. Over 75% of the City's bus fleet will be replaced over the next 7 months. This marks the first shipment of the new buses that the City of Wichita will receive. In spring and summer of 2002, 34 additional buses will arrive from California-based Gillig Corporation.