New 40-foot buses that recently began arriving feature a more open seating arrangement and several other improvements.
The Gillig-made, standard-diesel buses replace three rows of front-facing seats on the passenger side with a single row of inward facing seats that customers can put in the up or down position.
The change is intended to make riding a crowded bus more comfortable and to provide additional space for mobility devices, strollers or other large objects.
The buses also have an easier to use wheelchair securement system and frameless windows that are easier to maintain and better looking. These features were also included in the buses used on the A Line, a rapid bus service on Snelling Avenue.
Ten of the new buses will arrive this year. The buses will be sent to the East Metro, Heywood and Nicollet garages.
Metro Transit has around 900 buses in its fleet, the majority of which are 40-foot standard diesel buses.
To provide feedback on the new buses, contact Customer Relations.