The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA) have announced the addition of three new GILLIG heavy-duty buses to the MWRTA fleet.
The buses, which have been manufactured to run entirely on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fuel, are set to begin operation on the MWRTA’s route 4N within the next two months, providing services between downtown Framingham and the Natick Mall.
Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt, said:As someone who relied on bus service to access a college education, I know firsthand the difference that better buses can make for commuters and those without personal vehicles.
We congratulate the MWRTA on this important addition to their fleet and commend their commitment to improving the services that so many riders depend on to support themselves and their families.
The new buses measure in at 30 feet in length, and will become the first heavy duty buses to operate on the MWRTA’s transit network, with each bus capable of carrying double the number of passengers current in-service vehicles can hold.
Acquisition of the vehicles has been made possible through a combination of funding provided by federal and state sources, including 392,000 USD obtained through the RTA Capital (RTACAP) Program, as well as funding secured via a partnership between the MWRTA, the Massachusetts State Legislature, MassDOT, and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
