CITY OF DETROIT: Ddot Enhances Detroit's Mobility Experience with 30 clean diesel buses an wi-fi capabilities

By Press release submission

Sep 19, 2019

City of Detroit issued the following announcement on Sept. 17

As part of its ongoing effort to modernize its fleet, the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) has begun rolling out 30 new clean diesel Xcelsior® heavy-duty transit buses that will be on the road by the end of September. Since 2015, DDOT has put more than 100 new buses on the road.

Twenty-five of the new clean buses will be standard 40-foot coaches and five will be 60-foot articulated coaches. Thirteen of the new generation vehicles are on the road today with more coming in weekly.

The new coaches are better for the environment and also provide a better customer experience that includes a new exterior look, plastic seats that are easier to clean, skylights for natural lighting and, Wi-Fi capabilities.

“The replacement of these 30 coaches demonstrates our continuous commitment to improving reliability and our customers’ transit experience,” said, Angelica Jones, Interim Director of DDOT. “We are excited about the new features which allow our customers to enjoy their ride – our mission is to provide safe, friendly, customer-focused transit.”

The clean diesel engines filter harmful emissions from the exhaust – impactful changes to help DDOT implement its strategic transportation plan which includes revitalizing and increasing bus service across the City of Detroit and its recent sustainability action agenda. Recently, DDOT announced with the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) their $2.6 million award in FTA Low-No grant funding for six electric buses and charging infrastructure.

“The addition of 30 buses with clean diesel models and adding 6 new electric buses will help reduce emissions and pollution from City vehicles and improve the air we breathe,” said Joel Howrani Heeres, Director of the Office of Sustainability. “This demonstrates DDOT’s partnership in advancing the goals of the Detroit Sustainability Action Agenda, including reducing emissions from City vehicles, helping Detroiters get around the city without a personal vehicle, and expanding WI-FI access on city buses.”

Improved customer experience

Riders today are able to access Wi-Fi on the 4G Network at the Rosa Parks Transit Center, state fairgrounds, and on 120 buses of DDOT’s 48 fixed route bus system. DDOT anticipates Wi-Fi installation to be completed on its entire fleet in the near future.

Additionally, the new bus rollout includes an all-disc brake system to help reduce the brake noise when traveling along DDOT’s fixed routes service area. “The comfortable new plastic seats and the all-disc brake system will decrease our maintenance costs, an increase in miles between brake jobs, and it’s easier to maintain the cleanliness of the seats,” said Larry Luckett, General Manager of Vehicle Maintenance of DDOT. “This will improve our overall efficiency and reduce the amount of time buses will need to be off the road being serviced.”

Original source can be found here.