Equipment News

GO Transit, providing fixed route service in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, recently installed the Proactive Air and Surface Purification System from NFI Parts onitsfleet.Thesystemsafelysanitizesbothairandsurfacesinsidethebus. ValleyTransit,operatingfixedrouteservicethroughouttheFoxCitiesinWisconsin,hasalsoinstalledthe NFIProactiveAirandSurfacePurificationSystemonitsfleet.Thesystemdisinfectsthebuseswhiletheyareontheroad.

Proactive Air Purification System for GO Transit and Valley Transit

GO Transit (in the city of Oshkosh, Wisconsin), and Valley Transit (serving the Fox Cities in Wisconsin) are keeping riders safe with the Proactive Air and Surface Purification (PASP) system from NFI Parts® . NFI Parts is the parts subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. (NFI), one of the world’s leading independent bus manufacturers.

The PASP units use proprietary technology to create advanced purification by producing high energy clusters which are distributed throughout the interior of the vehicle safely sanitizing both air and surfaces, leaving behind substantially less harmful residue. It is mounted directly in the passenger compartment allowing for deactivation of viruses as they are introduced into the vehicle. Virus deactivation at the source of introduction is one of the critical factors to increasing passenger and vehicle safety.

“Our PASP system disinfects without downtime or additional cleaning during service; once it has been installed and the vehicle is running, it continuously disinfects while the vehicle is on the road, ” said Brian Dewsnup, president at NFI Parts. “Unlike many other technologies implemented in response to the pandemic, operating this technology while the bus is in operation is not harmful to passengers and drivers. We are proud to offer this as part of our Clean and Protect product line. ”

Testing at the University of Florida confirmed the technology deactivates SARSCoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, as well as deactivating coronavirus 229E. The technology has also been tested in operation in a stationary mass transportation vehicle environment where surface bacteria levels were reduced to almost non-detectable levels and VOC (volatile organic compounds) air quality measurements were reduced by almost 96 percent.

“It not only deactivates the SARS-CoV-2 virus, it is also effective on other viruses, bacteria, mold, fungus, VOCs, mildew and odors, making the experience of public transportation more comfortable and appealing, ” continued Dewsnup. “The bar for cleanliness has been raised over the course of the last 11 months; equipping fleets with the latest technology will assist in maintaining this new standard and restoring rider confidence that the onboard air and surfaces are cleaner with this system installed. ”

Clean and Protect products each work to support the five principles of transportation safety: Distancing, disinfecting, air quality, PPE and communication. These areas can help improve the safety onboard motor coaches and are critical steps toward restoring the consumer confidence needed to restart the industry.

“The safety and security of our riders and staff is our top priority, ” said Jim Collins, transportation director at the City of Oshkosh. “After completing the installation of driver barriers and hand sanitizing stations, the PASP unit was a great solution to round out our safety strategy. ”

Both GO Transit and Valley Transit have maintained service schedules throughout the pandemic, providing an essential transportation option to keep their community moving. Riders can find the latest information about traveling safely on their respective social media pages: facebook.com/GOtransit/ and twitter.com/ValleyTransit.

“We’re extremely happy to have something installed in our fleet that is able to disinfect air and surfaces throughout the day, ” said Ron McDonald, general manager at Valley Transit. “Since joining the APTA Health and Safety Commitment Program, we have remained committed to following every precaution possible to ensure our buses are safe. The unit running while buses are on the road, paired with daily cleaning crews and new driver barriers, covers all bases. ”

GO Transit operates on a fixed route system in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, providing bus service to more than one million passengers per year.

Valley Transit’s vision is to get people where they want to go throughout the Fox Cities in Wisconsin. They provide safe customer-focused transportation options that connect communities to enhance their quality of life. In doing so, Valley Transit provides numerous transportation options throughout a Tri-County area that covers 117 square miles with a population greater than 200,000 residents.

The strong partnership between NFI Parts and its supply network has resulted in inventory on high demand items to be available for purchase. Due to the popularity of the Clean and Protect products, customers are encouraged to reach out to their NFI Parts customer service representative as quickly as possible to minimize lead times. More information NFI Parts Clean and Protect product line can be found here: www.nfi.parts/cleanandprotect.

ABC to Distribute Vicinity Buses

Grande West Transportaton Group Inc., a leading supplier of electric, CNG, gas and clean diesel buses, recently announced that it has entered into a strategic U.S. distribution agreement with ABC Companies (ABC), a leading provider of motorcoach and transit equipment in North America.

The ABC distributorship supports Grande West’s focus on U.S. expansion as it begins marketing the fully Buy America compliant Vicinity™ heavy duty mid-size bus, the Vicinity Lightning™ EV and Vicinity™ LT light-duty models to new and existing customers.

Under the new agreement, ABC Companies, a leading provider of motorcoach, transit and specialty passenger transport equipment in the USA and Canada, will distribute the manufacturer’s Vicinity heavyduty vehicles throughout the Western United States from Texas to California. The Vicinity line fills in key transit and private shuttle markets within the ABC portolio of new vehicles for these locations, enhancing the offering to current customers while expanding to other sectors.

“As we continue to expand the ABC product portfolio, our main goal is to provide more choice and price points for operators, ” said Roman Cornell, president ABC Companies. “Our customers’ needs drive our strategic priorities and after an extensive search, we found the Grande West Vicinity product line achieved best in class results across a number of the Federal Transit Authorities Altoona testing procedures. Our distribution agreement with Grande West enables ABC to offer its proven track record of customer sales, service and support with a proven, high-quality Buy America compliant product line, inclusive of their innovative new battery-electric vehicles.

“The Grande West Vicinity lineup offers added flexibility and choice to our transit customer base who already utilize ABC’s parts and maintenance services, providing a great fit for our large base of operators. With decades of experience in sales, technical, repair and maintenance support, ABC is committed to supporting heavy-duty, midsize market users who can leverage the expertise of a proven market leader like Grande West, ” concluded Cornell.

“We are proud to announce our distribution partnership with ABC, representing an excellent addition to our reach in the United States, particularly as we begin to market our Buy America compliant Vicinity buses to new and existing customers, ” added William Trainer, president and chief executive officer of Grande West. “In particular, ABC’s well-established reputation for EV sales in the California market will prove invaluable as we bring our new Vicinity Lightning EV bus to market. We look forward to working closely with Roman and the ABC team going forward. ”

CCW Delivers Rehabbed Buses to Capital Area Transit

Complete Coach Works (CCW) announced on March 15 that it has made the final delivery to Capital Area Transit (CAT). The contract, which calls for the rehabilitation of two articulated New Flyer buses, was awarded late last year.

Work on the buses included repowering the engines to Cummins Recon ISL. The new engines are fuel efficient, low weight and compact. Additional work for the buses included installment of rebuilt Allison transmissions, new driver seats, reupholstered and repainted passenger seats, new interior and exterior LED lighting and ADA-compliant wheelchair ramps. Other upgrades included new brakes and suspensions, steering components and destination signs.

Rehabilitation of vehicles is often part of a transit system’s strategy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the 60-foot articulated vehicles provides more space for riders and allows for greater social distancing. The vehicles also enhance the passenger experience by improving customers’ comfort and safety in a cost-effective manner.

By purchasing a remanufactured bus, CAT receives two fully-renovated buses for about half the cost of a new bus. “A complete restoration is not only cost-effective, but a retrofit bus takes a fraction of the time to deliver in months not years, ” states Brad Carson, director of sales and marketing at CCW. “Our priority is to assist our clients in their efforts to ensure the safety of the people in their communities. We will continue to work and support agencies through this unprecedented time” .

Complete Coach Works (CCW) is the largest bus remanufacturing and rehabilitation company in the United States, with more than 30 years in the transportation industry. A pioneer in the field of alternative fuel and hybrid vehicle technology, CCW has always worked to provide clean vehicles through innovative design and engineering, and it unveiled the world’s first remanufactured all-electric, batterypowered bus in 2012. For jobs of any size, CCW’s team of more than 350 experts always provides cutting-edge products and exceptional customer service.

ABCCompanieshasenteredintoanagreementwithgrandeWestTransportationGrouptodistribute VicinitybusesintheWesternUnitedStatesfromTexastoCalifornia.DevelopedinBritishColumbia, the Vicinity has become popular in Canada and now in the United States. It is available in different lengthsandwithmultiplepoweroptions.