CTA Unveils New Buses

By Chuck Sudo in News on Feb 27, 2014 3:00PM

Photo courtesy Chicago Transit Authority.

Chicago Transit Authority unveiled new buses Wednesday with a sleeker body design, brighter LED lighting, seamless floors, bigger windows and more security cameras than ever. Big Brother is watching you.

The new buses by Nova Bus will feature improved barriers between the drivers and passengers. Those and the cameras are part of CTA’s plan for heightened safety measures to fight crime and vandalism on their buses. The buses also feature seating produced by Freedman Seating in Humboldt Park which are intended to withstand heavy use and are lightweight to reduce fuel usage.

A few of the new diesel-fueled buses, part of an order of 300, are currently being tested in a pilot program and are part of a modernization of CTA’s bus fleet that began in 2012. CTA President Forrest Claypool said, “Just as we continue to upgrade our rail car fleet through new rail car purchases and midlife overhauls, we continue to upgrade our bus fleet to ensure quality, safe service for the 60 percent of CTA customers who ride our buses, while lowering CTA’s annual maintenance costs.”

Photo courtesy Chicago Transit Authority.