BUS BUILDERS HANG IN SUSPENDED INNOVATION

In 1967 the National Academy of Engineering recommended certain specifications for transit buses. In 1971, the Urban Mass Transportation Administration (UMTA) followed up those recommendations and subcontracted GMC, Flxible and AM General to build three buses apiece which would increase ridership with safer, quieter and cleaner buses. Features to help the elderly and handicapped would be incorporated. When the prototypes were delivered, they went through tours of U. S. cities and endurance tests. The Volpe administration of the Department of Transportation (DOT) then mandated Transbus, incorporating the best features of each manufacturer. But a few years later, under a new administration, UMTA scrapped the mandate and allowed the manufacturers to build interim buses called Advance Design Buses (ADB's). They were allowed because transit operators needed new buses and Transbus simply was not ready. Later administrative changes at DOT have resulted in new pressure for Transbus, which has been resisted by the manufacturers in various ways. Meanwhile, any city wanting to buy a transit bus (with UMTA funding 80% of the purchase) has a choice between two interim buses: GM's RTS II and Flxible's 870. These buses represent a marked departure from the construction techniques of their predecessors, and actually contain over 80% of the Transbus requirements. Detailed descriptions of the GMC RTS II and the Flxible 870 are given.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/31209162
• Corporate Authors:

  Automotive Industries International

  Chilton Way
  Radnor, PA  United States  19089
• Authors:
  • MCELROY, J
• Publication Date: 1978-12

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 42-47
• Serial:
  • Automotive Industries
  • Volume: 158
  • Issue Number: 18
  • Publisher: Randall Publishing Company
  • ISSN: 1099-4130
  • Serial URL: http://www.ai-online.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Administration; Aged; Buses; Persons with disabilities; Ridership; Urban transportation
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Old TRIS Terms: Transbus
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Highways; Public Transportation; Society; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00314847
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Engineering Index
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 22 1981 12:00AM