ORION II BUS DEMONSTRATION. FINAL DEMONSTRATION PROJECT

The Central New York Regional Transportation Authority (CNYRTA) conducted an 18-month demonstration to determine how the ORION II bus operates in actual transit service. The ORION II vehicle is a small low floor, accessible heavy duty transit bus designed to meet the needs of the elderly and handicapped. It has the capacity to seat 26 passengers with 4 wheelchair lockdowns. Side and rear doors are equipped with electrically powered ramps. Data was collected from 2 ORION II vehicles operating in fixed-route service in Fulton, NY; and from 3 ORION II buses operating in demand-response service in Syracuse, NY. Test vehicles accumulated 52,000 miles in Fulton, and 36,000 miles in Syracuse. Eight Thomas vehicles (22-foot, 11,500 lbs, wheelchair equipped buses) were also tested during this demonstration period. Operations (fuel and oil usage) and maintenance (scheduled and unscheduled) data were collected and charted-out in this report as well as driver, passenger, and maintenance surveys. Results show the ORION II bus more successful in fixed-route service than in demand-responsive. ORION II holds more wheelchairs and more ambulatory passengers. It can hold larger motorized chairs as a result of having a ramp rather than lift. Driver and passenger surveys show preference for ORION I vehicles, even though noise, fumes, and side-seatings were somewhat annoying. This report provides descriptions, photographs, and comparison charts of both the diesel-fueled ORION II transit bus and gasoline-fueled Thomas vehicles along with the demonstration test plan, evaluations, conclusions, and survey results.

• Corporate Authors:

  Central New York Regional Transportation Authority

  One Centro Center, 200 Cortland Avenue, Drawer 820
  Syracuse, NY  United States  13205-0820

  Urban Mass Transportation Administration

  400 7th Street, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Shanley, J
• Publication Date: 1989-2

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 123 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aged; Alternatives analysis; Buses; Data collection; Demonstration projects; Diesel engines; Gasoline engines; Low floor vehicles; Persons with disabilities; Small buses; Surveys; Wheelchairs
• Identifier Terms: Urban Mass Transportation Act
• Old TRIS Terms: Umta section 3
• Subject Areas: Public Transportation; Society; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00485827
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Urban Mass Transportation Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: UMTA-NY-03-0182-89-1
• Contract Numbers: UMTA-NY-03-0182
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jul 31 1990 12:00AM