AC Transit unveils a new fleet
With the launch of a new fleet of 40-foot lowfloor 1300 Series transit buses from the Gillig Corporation, Hayward, CA, and the kickoff of its A Better Ride campaign, AC Transit, Oakland, CA, says it is embarking on a new era of public transportation in the Bay Area. Embracing the “Buy America” policy, the agency unveiled the first 65 new buses in a step toward as many as 300 American-made buses over the next two years to replace aging vehicles.
update The Better Ride initiatives are aimed at improving on-time bus performance, internal efficiencies and overall service reliability, as well as implementing quality assurance program to maintain cleaner buses. The environmentally-friendly low-floor Gillig buses offer a smooth ride with lowmaintenance and passenger comfort. They’re unlike any buses that East Bay bus travelers have seen, according to the agency. AC Transit says its contract with Gillig provides dozens of local jobs, spurs local business and stimulates the regional economy. The 1300 series Gillig buses were manufactured in nearby Hayward, CA.
BUSRide
FMCSA to mandate GPS training In coming months, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will release its entry-level CDL operator rule that will require mandatory training in the operation of global positioning systems. U.S. Senator Chuck Shumer (D-NY) pushed for the required training after a study done in New York showed a sharp rise in the number of low-bridge strikes caused by trucks and buses using navigation systems not designed for large commercial vehicles. GPS devices made for passenger cars may not show low bridges, hazmat routes and other items noteworthy to commercial carriers. The study that Shumer cited reported that GPS units were to blame in 80 percent of low-bridge strikes in the state and accounted for $4.1 million in repairs on the Long Island Expressway alone.
May 2013
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