The MTA Regional Bus Operations bus fleet is a fleet of buses in fixed-route service in New York City under the "MTA New York City Bus" (also known as New York City Transit or NYCT) and "MTA Bus" brands, both of which operate local, limited, express and Select Bus Service routes.

Description and history

The fleet consists of over 5,700 buses of various types and models for fixed-route service, making MTA RBO's fleet the largest public bus fleet in the United States.[1] The MTA also has over 2,000 vans and cabs for ADA paratransit service, providing service in New York City, southwestern Nassau County, and the city of Yonkers. All vehicles, with the exception of paratransit cabs, are fully accessible to persons with disabilities.[2][3] Fixed-route buses are dispatched from 28 garages (20 New York City Bus and 8 MTA Bus) and one annex in New York City.

Several fleet improvements have been introduced over the system's history. The first large order of air conditioned buses began service in 1966.[4] "Kneeling buses" were introduced in 1976, and wheelchair lifts began appearing in 1980.[5][4][6] Also in the 1980s, stop-request cords (or "bell cords") were replaced by yellow tape strips. However, buses ordered after 2008 feature cords rather than tape strips due to the latter's higher maintenance cost.[7] Articulated buses were introduced in 1996, and have since become prominent in the Bronx and Manhattan.[8][5] Low-floor buses, designed to speed boarding and alighting and improve riding conditions for elderly and disabled passengers, were first tested in 1997[9][10] and have made up most of the new non-express buses ordered since the early 2000s. The last non-express high-floor bus was withdrawn in 2019.[11]

Most post-2000 orders also feature stop-request buttons located on grab bars.[12] Beginning in 2016, new orders along with buses built after 2011 will be built/retrofitted with Wi-Fi connectivity and USB charging ports. In 2023, Wi-fi connectivity was removed on all buses due to low usage from passengers.[13]

Starting in 2016, efforts to bring an audio/visual system to the current and future fleet went underway to improve customer service and ADA accessibility thru use of next stop announcements & PSAs. Though the former Long Island Bus Division (now NICE Bus) had already deployed such a system throughout its fleet since the early-2000s, the MTA had only trialed similar systems alongside GPS tracking between 2007 and 2012 on select routes in the New York City Bus system. Current plans include the installation of digital information screens installed throughout the interior of the bus which will provide real-time information such as time, weather, advertisements, & service advisories.[14] The screens are supplied by contract from 3 different vendors and are installed on new bus deliveries starting in 2017 while buses built after 2008 are currently receiving retrofits. A new livery was also introduced, replacing the blue stripe livery on a white base that had been in use in one variation or another since the late 1970s. The first of these buses entered service in mid-May 2016 on the Q10 route.[15]

Buses operating on clean or alternative fuels also make up a significant portion of the fleet, particularly since the establishment of the MTA's "Clean Fuel Bus" program in June 2000.[4] Buses running compressed natural gas (CNG) were first tested in the early 1990s,[16][17] and were mass-ordered beginning in 1995.[4][16] Hybrid-electric buses, operating with a combination of diesel and electric power, were introduced in September 1998 with the Orion VI,[4][18][19] and mass-ordered beginning in 2002 with the Orion VII.[5][18] These hybrid buses proved to be useful, at least the 2006-2007 models, for these models cost significantly less to repair and maintain than earlier units.[20] As of December 2022, the fleet has over 1,100 diesel-electric buses and over 700 buses powered by compressed natural gas, which make up less than half of the total fleet.[1][21][22] This is the largest fleet of either kind in the United States.[22][23]

In 2017, the MTA ordered a test fleet of ten forty-foot battery-electric buses, five from New Flyer and five from Proterra, the XE40 Xcelsior CHARGE and Catalyst BE40 models respectively. These were all leases, which expired in 2021. In 2019, the MTA ordered their first battery-electric sixty-foot articulated buses, with an order of fifteen XE60 Xcelsior CHARGE buses from New Flyer, deployed on Manhattan Select Bus Service routes. In April 2021, the agency placed an RFP for forty-five new forty-foot battery-electric buses.

Later in 2021, the MTA awarded New Flyer the contract for the electric bus order, set to arrive in late 2022 and 2023. 15 more buses were added to the originally 45 bus contract, making for a total of 60 buses allotted for MTA NYCT.

Fixed-route fleet details

A roster of the fleet is shown below. Not included below are buses and vans not open to the general public (Access-A-Ride vans, taxicabs, and employee shuttle buses), retired buses, or demonstration buses. This list also does not include buses formerly operated by MTA Long Island Bus (now Nassau Inter-County Express) that are now operated under contract to Nassau County by Transdev.

Local, limited, & Select Bus Service vehicles

All buses listed below have semi-low floors.[24]

Image Builder and model name Model year Length Numbers
(total)		 Amount active Energy source Operator
Orion Bus Industries
Orion VII 07.501 HEV		 2006-2007 40 ft (12 m) 3500–3783
(284 buses)		 35
retiring		 Diesel-electric hybrid MTA Bus
Orion Bus Industries
Orion VII 07.501 HEV
Next Generation		 2008 3800–3959
(160 buses)		 17
retiring
2009-2010 3960–4278
4330–4702
(692 buses)		 363
retiring		 MTA Bus & NYCT
Bx15 1210 Nova Bus
LFS-A TL62102A
3rd Generation
Articulated		 62 ft (19 m) 1200–1289
(90 buses)		 81
retiring		 Diesel NYCT
Q27 8056 Nova Bus
LFS TL40102A
3rd Generation		 2011 40 ft (12 m) 8000–8089
(90 buses)		 89
Orion Bus Industries
Orion VII 07.501
EPA10
3rd Generation		 7000–7089
(90 buses)		 88
B83 4823 New Flyer
XD40 Xcelsior		 4810–4899
(90 buses)		 90
B16 455 New Flyer
C40LF Low Floor		 2011-2013 185-672
(488 buses)		 488 CNG MTA Bus & NYCT
Bx19 5956 Nova Bus
LFS-A TL62102A
1st Generation
Articulated		 62 ft (19 m) 5252–5363
5770–5986
(328 buses)		 328 Diesel NYCT
New Flyer
XD60 Xcelsior
Articulated		 2012-2013 60 ft (18 m) 4710–4799
(90 buses)		 89
B26 7293 New Flyer
XD40 Xcelsior		 2014-2015 40 ft (12 m) 7090–7483
(394 buses)		 392 MTA Bus & NYCT
Nova Bus
LFS TL40102A
4th Generation		 2015-2016 8090–8503
(414 buses)		 412 NYCT
New Flyer
XD60 Xcelsior
Articulated		 60 ft (18 m) 5364–5438
(75 buses)		 75 MTA Bus
B16 758 New Flyer
XN40 Xcelsior		 2016-2017 40 ft (12 m) 673–810
(138 buses)		 136 CNG NYCT
M14 6105
 New Flyer
XD60 Xcelsior
Articulated		 60 ft (18 m) 5987–6125
(139 buses)		 139 Diesel MTA Bus & NYCT
Bx1 5439
 Nova Bus
LFS-A TL62102A
4th Generation
Articulated		 2016-2019 62 ft (19 m) 5439–5602
(164 buses)		 164 NYCT
B35 1103
 New Flyer
XN60 Xcelsior
Articulated		 2017-2018 60 ft (18 m) 1000–1109
(110 buses) 		109 CNG
New Flyer
XD40 Xcelsior		 2017-2019 40 ft (12 m) 7484–7850
(367 buses)		 366 Diesel
New Flyer
XDE40 Xcelsior		 2018 9500–9509
(10 buses)		 10 Diesel-electric hybrid
Q46 8529 Nova Bus
LFS TL40102A
4th Generation		 2018-2019 8504–8754
(251 buses)		 250 Diesel
New Flyer
XE60 Xcelsior CHARGE
Articulated		 2019 60 ft (18 m) 4950–4964
(15 buses)
[25]		 15 Battery electric
Q53 SBS 6234
 New Flyer
XD60 Xcelsior
Articulated		 2019-2020 6126–6286
(161 buses)		 161 Diesel MTA Bus & NYCT
Nova Bus
LFS HEV TL40102A
4th Generation		 2021-2022 40 ft (12 m) 9620–9910
(291 buses)		 291 Diesel-electric hybrid NYCT
New Flyer
XDE40 Xcelsior		 9416–9499
9510–9619
(194 buses)		 194
Nova Bus
LFS TL40102A
4th Generation		 2022-2023 8755–8963
(209 buses)		 209 Diesel
New Flyer
XD40 Xcelsior		 7851–7989
(139 buses)		 139
Nova Bus
LFS TL40102A
4th Generation		 2023-2024 8964–9271
(308 buses)		 64
under delivery		 MTA Bus
New Flyer
XD40 Xcelsior		 9272–9387
(116 buses)		 21
under delivery
New Flyer
XE40 Xcelsior CHARGE
Next Generation		 4965–5024
(60 buses)		 2
under delivery		 Battery electric NYCT

Express bus fleet

All express buses are diesel-powered, 45 ft (14 m) long commuter coaches. All buses are high-floored.[26]

Image Builder and
model name		 Model year Numbers
(total)		 Amount active Operator
Motor Coach Industries
D4500CL		 2004-2007 3000–3474
(475 buses)		 233
retiring		 MTA Bus & NYCT
Motor Coach Industries
D4500CT		 2008 2210–2250
(41 buses)		 26
retiring
Prevost
X3-45 Commuter
1st Generation		 2012 2400–2489
(90 buses)		 90 NYCT
Motor Coach Industries
D4500CT		 2013 2251–2304
(54 buses)		 53
Prevost
X3-45 Commuter
1st Generation		 2014-2016 2490–2789
(300 buses)		 297
Prevost
X3-45 Commuter
2nd Generation		 2021-2022 1300–1629
(330 buses)		 330 MTA Bus & NYCT

Future bus fleet

These are bus orders that will occur a few years into the future. While most of these bus orders has confirmed contractors, some bus orders don’t have a contract.

Builder and model name Model year Length Numbers
(total)		 Energy source Operator
New Flyer
XHE40		 2024 40 ft (12 m) TBA
(2 buses)		 Hydrogen fuel cell NYCT
Nova Bus
LFSe		 TBA
(5 buses)		 Battery electric
Van Hool TBA TBA
(5 buses)
New Flyer
XE60 Xcelsior CHARGE
Articulated		 2025–2027 60 ft (18 m) TBA
(18 buses)
TBA
(72 buses)
TBA 40 ft (12 m) TBA
(348 buses)		 Diesel TBA
TBA
(110 buses)		 CNG MTA Bus?
New Flyer
XD60 Xcelsior
Articulated		 60 ft (18 m) TBA
(245 buses)		 Diesel NYCT
TBA
(425 buses)
New Flyer
XE40 Xcelsior CHARGE
Next Generation		 40 ft (12 m) TBA
(187 buses)		 Battery electric MTA Bus & NYCT
TBA
(193 buses)
Prevost
X3-45 Commuter
2nd Generation		 45 ft (14 m) TBA
(250 buses)		 Diesel MTA Bus
TBA
(131 buses)		 TBA
TBA 40 ft (12 m) TBA
(210 buses)		 Diesel-electric hybrid

References

  1. 1 2 "MTA Capital Program Oversight Committee Meeting: January 2016" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. January 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 29, 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  2. ↑ "MTA New York City Transit (NYCT)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 24, 2011.
  3. ↑ "MTA Bus Company (MTABUS)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 24, 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "New York City Transit - History and Chronology". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on January 8, 2014. Retrieved March 12, 2007.
  5. 1 2 3 Kenneth T. Jackson; Lisa Keller; Nancy Flood (December 1, 2010). The Encyclopedia of New York City: Second Edition. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-18257-6.
  6. ↑ "New York City Transit Facts & Figures: 1979" (PDF). La Guardia and Wagner Archives. Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York City Transit Authority. 1979. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  7. ↑ Sulzberger, A.J. (May 12, 2009). "The Return of the Bus Bell Cord". The New York Times. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  8. ↑ Rein, Lisa; Ratish, Robert (October 3, 1996). "NEW BUS A REAL STRRRETCH". Daily News (New York). Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  9. ↑ Rolland D. King (January 1, 1998). New Designs and Operating Experiences with Low-floor Buses. Transportation Research Board. ISBN 978-0-309-06308-1.
  10. ↑ Kornblut, Anne E. (January 20, 1997). "REDESIGNED BUS MAY AID DISABLED". Daily News (New York). Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  11. ↑ "MTA NYC Transit Retires Last of 1980s-Era Buses as Modernization of Fleet Continues, Providing Customers with Better, More Reliable Service". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. May 6, 2019. Archived from the original on July 15, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  12. ↑ "How to Ride the Bus" mta.info
  13. ↑ "MTA cuts free WiFi service on city buses, cites lack of use". ny1.com. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Newsday | Long Island's & NYC's News Source | Newsday".
  15. ↑ "2,042 New Buses to Have Free Wi-Fi and USB Charging Ports by 2020". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. March 8, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  16. 1 2 Lowell, Dana M.; Parsley, William; Bush, Christopher; Zupo, Douglas (August 24, 2008). "Comparison of Clean Diesel Buses to CNG Buses". osti.gov. MTA New York City Transit Authority. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  17. ↑ Pierre-Pierre, Garry (January 16, 1996). "Buses Using Natural Gas Do Well in Pilot Program". The New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  18. 1 2 Press Release (November 29, 2005). "Orion Hybrid/Electric Buses Are Key To Cleaner Air And Improved Economy". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  19. ↑ Wald, Matthew L. (February 8, 1999). "Hybrid Bus Is Environmentally Friendly". The New York Times. Warren, Rhode Island. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  20. ↑ "New York's hybrid buses prove their worth". New Atlas. February 7, 2008. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  21. ↑ Young, Angelo (July 1, 2013). "New York City Scrapping Nearly A Fourth Of Its Hybrid Bus Engines For 100% Diesel Bus Engines". ibtimes.com. International Business Times. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  22. 1 2 "Transit & Bus Committee Meeting" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. April 23, 2018. pp. 49–50. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 16, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  23. ↑ Press Release (September 5, 2008). "MTA NYC Transit Introduces New Generation Hybrid Electric Bus Into Staten Island Service". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  24. ↑ "New York MTA (Bus) – The Insider's Guide". Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  25. ↑ "MTA Deploys First All-Electric Bus Fleet to 14th Street Busway".
  26. ↑ Aber, Judah (May 2016). "Electric Bus Analysis for New York City Transit" (PDF). columbia.edu. p. 8. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
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