When the Centre Area Transportation Authority retired bus 56 Friday afternoon, it was the end of an era, but also a chance to look to the future.
Bus 56, manufactured by Orion, was part of a new breed back in 1996 when CATA first made the switch from diesel to cleaner burning natural gas.
CATA has been replacing its fleet of older Orion buses with new Flyer Xcelsior buses as part of an on-going effort to protect the environment.
“We [were] the first transportation agency in the East Coast to have all of our buses run on natural gas,” says Jacqueline Sheader, CATA’s public relations manager.
“Most buses live for 12 years,” says Louwana Olivia, general manager of CATA. “After 12 years maintaining them are really hard and bus 56 gave us 19 years so it was time to retire it.”
CATA drivers Mike Swates and Will Bishop were there to say goodbye. They’re sad to see it’s the end of the line for the bus 56.
“I’ve been a driver for 32 years and I love the old Orions,” says Swates. “The new buses have better technology but the Orions have a better feel for the road and are easier to drive.”
Bishop has been with CATA for five years.
“When I first got to CATA, they told me the Orions were the old workhorses of the fleet,” says Bishop.
Even though both drivers prefer the Orion over the New Flyer Xcelsior, they understand why the change is being made.
According to Sheader the change was necessary because the Orion buses had gotten old and the New Flyer Xcelsior buses are more technologically advanced. They’re lighter, have improved fuel economy and more space for handicapped riders.
CATA buses carry more than seven million passengers every year.
Click HERE to visit the CATA website.
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