ColumBUS Transit plans to debut a new design Friday on four newly purchased buses.
The 29-foot 2018 Gillig buses, outfitted with the Dancing C’s design, were showcased outside Columbus City Hall on Tuesday. They will replace four older buses in the transit department’s fleet.
“Hopefully with the paint scheme, people will notice them again,” said Bryan Burton, the city’s public works director.
To celebrate the unveiling, the public will get an opportunity to ride city transit buses for free from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday.
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The 26-passenger-seat buses are powered by Cummins diesel engines and have two accessible seating areas for individuals who use wheelchairs, Burton said.
The buses cost $448,422, but the city will be reimbursed for 80 percent of that by the federal government through a grant from the Federal Transit Administration, Burton said. The city’s share is $89,684.
Four buses dating back to 2006 will be replaced as city transit updates its fleet. Two of the buses will be sold, while the other two will be used as spares, Burton said.
The buses come equipped with video monitors, allowing the public to see five different areas of the bus that are being recorded. In addition, a monitor will also allow ColumBUS Transit to display community service announcements, Burton said.
Riders will also find strap handles on the bus, allowing them to hold onto the straps if they choose to stand during their ride. An added feature for bicyclists is that they will be able to place their bikes in a rack found outside the front of the bus, Burton said.
“It’s been a long process, but we’re excited to put them on the routes,” said Cindy Setser, the city’s transit coordinator.
The city, which plans to add two additional buses next year, recently received a donated bus from the Columbus Area Visitors Center that will be similar to the ones being introduced Friday.
The new fleet of buses should provide a smoother ride for passengers and be more fuel efficient, said Tim Morris, a mechanic with the city.
The design of the seats in the rear of the bus will allow individuals to be adjacent from one another instead of forward-facing, Morris said.
New safety features have also been added, Morris said.
If the bus is involved in an accident, a button can be pressed that will allow all the seatbelts of passengers in wheelchairs to unbuckle at the same time, he said.
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Free bus rides will be available for the public from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday.
More information: www.columbus.in.gov/columbus-transit/
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ColumBUS Transit has five routes that leave the depot at Mill Race Station, 850 Lindsey St., Columbus, every hour from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
However, the city is considering a route study to look at areas currently not covered by the system. A contract is expected to go before the Columbus Board of Works next week. If approved, the study would begin in September.
For information on current routes, visit columbus.in.gov/columbus-transit or call 812-376-2506.
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