The heavy-duty vehicles, which utilize compressed natural gas, are slated to fully enter service in Framingham and Natick this May.
FRAMINGHAM - The MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA) has introduced three new buses into its local transportation fleet.
Local and state officials gathered at the MWRTA’s headquarters along Blandin Avenue in Framingham on Monday, March 10, for a ribbon cutting ceremony to introduce the vehicles, which are expected to be fully integrated into the MWRTA’s services in May. They’re set to be utilized on Route 4N, the organization’s busiest bus route with service between their hub in downtown Framingham and the Natick Mall.
MWRTA Administrator Jim Nee told attendees on Monday that the heavy-duty buses, which were developed by the manufacturer Gillig, stretch 30 feet long. They run on compressed natural gas, which proponents say is a more efficient and eco-friendly fuel compared to other fossil energy sources like gasoline and diesel fuel. Nee added that the trio of new buses can hold twice as many passengers than the smaller buses that currently operate in the area.
“These buses don’t just carry more passengers; they last twice as long and they also align with our vision for a cleaner future…This isn’t just a win for our agency,” Nee said on Monday.
“It’s a win for the environment, it’s a win for the residents, and it’s a win for the future of MetroWest.”
The buses were acquired via federal and state funding, including $392,000 through the Massachusetts RTA Capital program included in the annual fiscal budget.
“The MetroWest Regional Transit Authority, I believe, is seen as a flagship—the gold standard—for transit authorities across the state,” State Senate President and Senator for the 2nd Middlesex and Norfolk District Karen Spilka told attendees during Monday’s ceremony.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has stated that over the course of the next two years, the MWRTA is planning on buying 10 more of these vehicles. The organization reportedly wants to include their first ever heavy-duty bus powered by an electric battery into its lineup in the near future.
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