The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) has placed a firm order for 12 articulated compressed natural gas (CNG) buses from New Flyer, with options for a further 33 vehicles.
The 60-foot (18.3-metre) Xcelsior CNG buses will be used to replace older vehicles and support the introduction of new bus rapid transit (BRT) services in Columbus, Ohio, and surrounding communities.
The order is supported by funding from the US Federal Transit Administration’s Low or No Emission (Low-No) Grant Program. New Flyer and COTA previously worked together to secure funding for articulated CNG buses through the programme in 2025.
If all options are exercised, COTA will receive up to 45 articulated buses. The vehicles will be COTA’s first 60-foot articulated buses supplied by New Flyer. The increased capacity is intended to support the agency’s plans for high-capacity transit as part of the LinkUS programme, which is expanding rapid transit across the Central Ohio region.
Chris Stoddart, President, North American Bus and Coach, NFI said:Bus rapid transit is transforming the way communities move, providing greater capacity and an enhanced passenger experience while supporting regional growth. Delivering COTA’s first 60-foot New Flyer articulated buses is an exciting milestone that reflects the agency’s vision for high-capacity transit and our shared commitment to supporting the future of mobility in central Ohio.
New Flyer has supplied COTA with more than 230 buses since 2000, including 102 CNG-powered vehicles.
COTA operates fixed-route bus, BRT, paratransit and microtransit services across the greater Columbus and Central Ohio area. The authority serves a population of approximately 1.3 million and recorded more than 12 million passenger trips annually.
The 12-bus firm order will be included in New Flyer’s third-quarter 2026 backlog, while the 33 optional buses will be recorded in its option backlog.
