COTA has begun rolling out more environmentally-friendly New Flyer buses, which feature USB charging ports at every seats and better accomodations for riders with disabilities.
The New Flyer buses run on compressed natural gas, and each one that comes in will replace a diesel bus. They boast better on-boarding for riders, and make it easier to strap in wheelchairs.
A few vehicles are being rolled out each day, with 28 total coming in over the next couple of weeks. COTA has committed to purchasing 28 of the buses per year for the next five years - a total of 140 buses by 2024.
Eighty percent of the funding for the buses is provided by grants. Each bus costs $537,308, according to COTA spokesperson Jeff Pullin.
The buses will help contribute to COTA's goal of going completely diesel-free by 2025.
