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The MTA Regional Bus Operations bus fleet is a fleet of buses in fixed-route service in New York City under the "MTA New York City Bus" (also known as New York City Transit or NYCT) and "MTA Bus" brands, both of which operate local, limited, express and Select Bus Service routes.

Description and history

The fleet consists of over 5,800 buses of various types and models for fixed-route service, making MTA RBO's fleet the largest public bus fleet in the United States. The MTA also has over 2,000 vans and cabs for ADA paratransit service, providing service in New York City, southwestern Nassau County, and the city of Yonkers. All vehicles, with the exception of paratransit cabs, are fully accessible to persons with disabilities. Fixed-route buses are dispatched from 28 garages (20 New York City Bus and 8 MTA Bus) and one annex in New York City.

Several fleet improvements have been introduced over the system's history. The first large order of air conditioned buses began service in 1966. "Kneeling buses" were introduced in 1976, and wheelchair lifts began appearing in 1980. Also in the 1980s, stop-request cords (or "bell cords") were replaced by yellow tape strips. However, buses ordered after 2008 feature cords rather than tape strips due to the latter's higher maintenance cost. Articulated buses were introduced in 1996, and have since become prominent in the Bronx and Manhattan. Low-floor buses, designed to speed boarding and alighting and improve riding conditions for elderly and disabled passengers, were first tested in 1997 and have made up most of the new non-express buses ordered since the early 2000s. The last non-express high-floor bus was withdrawn in 2019.

Most post-2000 orders also feature stop-request buttons located on grab bars. Beginning in 2016, new orders along with buses built after 2011 will be built/retrofitted with Wi-Fi connectivity and USB charging ports. In 2023, Wi-fi connectivity was removed on all buses due to low usage from passengers.

Starting in 2016, efforts to bring an audio/visual system to the current and future fleet went underway to improve customer service and ADA accessibility thru use of next stop announcements & PSAs. Though the former Long Island Bus Division (now NICE Bus) had already deployed such a system throughout its fleet since the early-2000s, the MTA had only trialed similar systems alongside GPS tracking between 2007 and 2012 on select routes in the New York City Bus system. Current plans include the installation of digital information screens installed throughout the interior of the bus which will provide real-time information such as time, weather, advertisements, & service advisories. The screens are supplied by contract from 3 different vendors and are installed on new bus deliveries starting in 2017 while buses built after 2008 are currently receiving retrofits. A new livery was also introduced, replacing the blue stripe livery on a white base that had been in use in one variation or another since the late 1970s. The first of these buses entered service in mid-May 2016 on the Q10 route.

Buses operating on clean or alternative fuels also make up a significant portion of the fleet, particularly since the establishment of the MTA's "Clean Fuel Bus" program in June 2000. Buses running compressed natural gas (CNG) were first tested in the early 1990s, and were mass-ordered beginning in 1995. Hybrid-electric buses, operating with a combination of diesel and electric power, were introduced in September 1998 with the Orion VI, and mass-ordered beginning in 2003 with the Orion VII. These hybrid buses proved to be useful, at least the 2006-2007 models, for these models cost significantly less to repair and maintain than earlier units. As of December 2022, the fleet has over 1,100 diesel-electric buses and over 700 buses powered by compressed natural gas, which make up less than half of the total fleet. This is the largest fleet of either kind in the United States.

Zero-emission buses

In 2017, the MTA tested a fleet of ten forty-foot battery electric buses – five from New Flyer and five from Proterra, the XE40 Xcelsior CHARGE and Catalyst BE40 models respectively. These were all leases, which expired in 2021. In 2019, the MTA ordered their first battery-electric sixty-foot articulated buses, with an order of fifteen XE60 Xcelsior CHARGE buses from New Flyer, deployed on Manhattan Select Bus Service routes. In April 2021, the agency placed an RFP for forty-five new forty-foot battery-electric buses. Later in 2021, the MTA awarded New Flyer the contract for the electric bus order, set to arrive in late 2022 and 2023. 15 more buses were added to the originally 45 bus contract, making for a total of 60 buses allotted for MTA NYCT.

In 2022, the MTA announced that they would trial hydrogen fuel cell buses, funded by a grant from New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. The first two buses (New Flyer Xcelsior CHARGE H2) will be launched in The Bronx by late 2025.

The MTA announced that it would only purchase zero-emission buses from 2029, and that the entire bus fleet will be zero-emission by 2040.

Fixed-route fleet details

A roster of the fleet is shown below. Not included below are buses and vans not open to the general public (Access-A-Ride vans, taxicabs, and employee shuttle buses), retired buses, or demonstration buses. This list also does not include buses formerly operated by MTA Long Island Bus (now Nassau Inter-County Express) that are now operated under contract to Nassau County by Transdev.

Local, limited, & Select Bus Service vehicles

All buses listed below have semi-low floors.

Image	Type	Model year	Length	Numbers (total)	Amount active	Energy source	Operator
	Orion Bus Industries Orion VII 07.501 HEV Next Generation	2009-2010	40 ft (12 m)	3960–4278 4330–4702 (692 buses)	130 retiring	Diesel-electric hybrid	MTA Bus & NYCT
	Nova Bus LFS-A TL62102A 3rd Generation Articulated		62 ft (19 m)	1200–1289 (90 buses)	81 retiring	Diesel	NYCT
	Nova Bus LFS TL40102A 3rd Generation	2011	40 ft (12 m)	8000–8089 (90 buses)	89
	Orion Bus Industries Orion VII 07.501 EPA10 3rd Generation			7000–7089 (90 buses)	88
	New Flyer XD40 Xcelsior	2011-2012		4810–4899 (90 buses)	89
	New Flyer C40LF Low Floor	2011-2013		185–672 (488 buses)	486	CNG	MTA Bus & NYCT
	Nova Bus LFS-A TL62102A 1st Generation Articulated		62 ft (19 m)	5252–5298 5300–5363 5770–5986 (328 buses)	328	Diesel	NYCT
	New Flyer XD60 Xcelsior Articulated	2012-2013	60 ft (18 m)	4710–4799 (90 buses)	89
	New Flyer XD40 Xcelsior	2014-2015	40 ft (12 m)	7090–7483 (394 buses)	392		MTA Bus & NYCT
	Nova Bus LFS TL40102A 4th Generation	2015-2016		8090–8503 (414 buses)	412		NYCT
	New Flyer XD60 Xcelsior Articulated		60 ft (18 m)	5364–5438 (75 buses)	74		MTA Bus
	New Flyer XN40 Xcelsior	2016-2017	40 ft (12 m)	673–810 (138 buses)	135	CNG	NYCT
	New Flyer XD60 Xcelsior Articulated		60 ft (18 m)	5987–6125 (139 buses)	137	Diesel	MTA Bus & NYCT
	Nova Bus LFS-A TL62102A 4th Generation Articulated	2016-2019	62 ft (19 m)	5439–5602 (164 buses)	163		NYCT
	New Flyer XN60 Xcelsior Articulated	2017-2018	60 ft (18 m)	1000–1109 (110 buses)	108	CNG
	New Flyer XD40 Xcelsior	2017-2019	40 ft (12 m)	7484–7850 (367 buses)	363	Diesel
	New Flyer XDE40 Xcelsior	2018		9500–9509 (10 buses)	10	Diesel-electric hybrid
	Nova Bus LFS TL40102A 4th Generation	2018-2019		8504–8754 (251 buses)	249	Diesel
	New Flyer XE60 Xcelsior CHARGE Articulated	2019	60 ft (18 m)	4950–4964 (15 buses)	15	Battery electric
	New Flyer XD60 Xcelsior Articulated	2019-2020		6126–6286 (161 buses)	161	Diesel	MTA Bus & NYCT
	Nova Bus LFS HEV TL40102A 4th Generation	2020-2021	40 ft (12 m)	9620–9910 (291 buses)	291	Diesel-electric hybrid	NYCT
	Nova Bus LFS TL40102A 4th Generation	2020-2022		8755–8963 (209 buses)	209	Diesel
	New Flyer XDE40 Xcelsior	2021-2022		9416–9499 9510–9619 (194 buses)	194	Diesel-electric hybrid
	New Flyer XD40 Xcelsior			7851–7989 (139 buses)	139	Diesel
	Nova Bus LFS TL40102A 4th Generation	2022-2024		8964–9271 (308 buses)	289 under delivery		MTA Bus
	New Flyer XD40 Xcelsior	2023-2024		9272–9387 (116 buses)	116
	New Flyer XE40 Xcelsior CHARGE Next Generation			4965–5024 (60 buses)	50 under delivery	Battery electric	NYCT
	Nova Bus LFSe+	2024		5100–5104 (5 buses)	0 under delivery

Express bus fleet

All express buses are diesel-powered, 45 ft (14 m) long commuter coaches. All buses are high-floored.

Image	Type	Model year	Numbers (total)	Amount active	Operator
	Motor Coach Industries D4500CL	2004-2007	3000–3474 (475 buses)	228 retiring	MTA Bus
	Motor Coach Industries D4500CT	2008-2009	2195–2250 (56 buses)	30 retiring	MTA Bus & NYCT
	Prevost X3-45 Commuter 1st Generation	2012	2400–2489 (90 buses)	89	NYCT
	Motor Coach Industries D4500CT	2013	2251–2304 (54 buses)	53
	Prevost X3-45 Commuter 1st Generation	2014-2016	2490–2789 (300 buses)	299
	Prevost X3-45 Commuter 2nd Generation	2021-2022	1300–1629 (330 buses)	330	MTA Bus & NYCT
		2025-2026	1630–1879 (250 buses)	2 under delivery	MTA Bus

Future bus fleet

These are bus orders that will occur a few years into the future.

References

1. ^ "MTA Capital Program Oversight Committee Meeting: January 2016" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. January 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 29, 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
2. "MTA New York City Transit (NYCT)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 24, 2011.
3. "MTA Bus Company (MTABUS)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 24, 2011.
4. ^ "New York City Transit - History and Chronology". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on January 8, 2014. Retrieved March 12, 2007.
5. ^ Kenneth T. Jackson; Lisa Keller; Nancy Flood (December 1, 2010). The Encyclopedia of New York City: Second Edition. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-18257-6.
6. "New York City Transit Facts & Figures: 1979" (PDF). La Guardia and Wagner Archives. Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York City Transit Authority. 1979. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
7. Sulzberger, A.J. (May 12, 2009). "The Return of the Bus Bell Cord". The New York Times. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
8. Rein, Lisa; Ratish, Robert (October 3, 1996). "NEW BUS A REAL STRRRETCH". Daily News (New York). Retrieved December 17, 2015.
9. Rolland D. King (January 1, 1998). New Designs and Operating Experiences with Low-floor Buses. Transportation Research Board. ISBN 978-0-309-06308-1.
10. Kornblut, Anne E. (January 20, 1997). "REDESIGNED BUS MAY AID DISABLED". Daily News (New York). Retrieved December 24, 2015.
11. "MTA NYC Transit Retires Last of 1980s-Era Buses as Modernization of Fleet Continues, Providing Customers with Better, More Reliable Service". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. May 6, 2019. Archived from the original on July 15, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
12. "How to Ride the Bus" mta.info
13. "MTA cuts free WiFi service on city buses, cites lack of use". ny1.com. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
14. "Newsday | Long Island's & NYC's News Source | Newsday".
15. "2,042 New Buses to Have Free Wi-Fi and USB Charging Ports by 2020". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. March 8, 2016. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
16. ^ Lowell, Dana M.; Parsley, William; Bush, Christopher; Zupo, Douglas (August 24, 2008). "Comparison of Clean Diesel Buses to CNG Buses". osti.gov. MTA New York City Transit Authority. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
17. Pierre-Pierre, Garry (January 16, 1996). "Buses Using Natural Gas Do Well in Pilot Program". The New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
18. ^ Press Release (November 29, 2005). "Orion Hybrid/Electric Buses Are Key To Cleaner Air And Improved Economy". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on May 30, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
19. Wald, Matthew L. (February 8, 1999). "Hybrid Bus Is Environmentally Friendly". The New York Times. Warren, Rhode Island. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
20. "New York's hybrid buses prove their worth". New Atlas. February 7, 2008. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
21. Young, Angelo (July 1, 2013). "New York City Scrapping Nearly A Fourth Of Its Hybrid Bus Engines For 100% Diesel Bus Engines". ibtimes.com. International Business Times. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
22. ^ "Transit & Bus Committee Meeting" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. April 23, 2018. pp. 49–50. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 16, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
23. Press Release (September 5, 2008). "MTA NYC Transit Introduces New Generation Hybrid Electric Bus Into Staten Island Service". mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on May 30, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
24. ^ "Transitioning to a zero-emissions bus fleet". MTA. October 13, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
25. "MTA Receives Grant for First Zero-Emission Hydrogen Buses". MTA. November 16, 2022. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
26. FuelCellsWorks (November 28, 2022). "MTA To Deploy Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses In The Bronx". Retrieved April 13, 2024.
27. "MTA hosts hydrogen fuel-cell bus informational". News 12 - The Bronx. Retrieved April 13, 2024. The MTA says they have committed to a zero-emission bus fleet by 2040.
28. "New York MTA (Bus) – The Insider's Guide". Retrieved February 22, 2022.
29. "MTA Deploys First All-Electric Bus Fleet to 14th Street Busway".
30. Aber, Judah (May 2016). "Electric Bus Analysis for New York City Transit" (PDF). columbia.edu. p. 8. Retrieved December 25, 2017.

External links

• Media related to Buses of MTA Regional Bus Operations at Wikimedia Commons

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