At the Bus & Paratransit Conference in Cleveland on May 3, APTA unveiled its new, expanded, and comprehensively updated bus guidelines. It is anticipated that the use of these guidelines, first produced in 1997, will not only save money, but will also result in standardized implementation of quality.

For the first time, all of APTA’s Standard Bus Procurement Guidelines standards are now available in a single volume. The document represents all bus lengths, from 30-foot to 60-foot articulated models, and the dominant propulsion types. Working to put it together over the past several years were a broad range of people, including representatives from transit agencies of all sizes, OEMs, and the Federal Transit Administration.

Changes include opportunities to choose warranty extensions, the addition of excusable delays for manufacturers because of problems with third-party suppliers and contractors, and changes to fleet defect parameters.

Speakers at the conference session were in agreement that new, detailed definitions should prove very helpful. The goal, they said, was to provide a better profile so manufacturers could build a “better” bus.

Standards should also aid in minimizing waste and misunderstandings. One example focused on testing a cooling system, with all involved knowing the precise location of vents and thermostats, because placing these items in different locations would clearly yield different results.

APTA is currently seeking transit agencies interested in beta-testing the document for feedback. The final version representing all comments and input from the testing phase will be available at APTA’s 2010 Annual Meeting and concurrent Bus Technical, Maintenance and Procurement Workshop in October in San Antonio, TX.

A story in a future issue of Passenger Transport will provide additional details on the 11 sections comprising the volume.

To download the new draft guidelines, click here. Questions may be addressed to Jeff Hiott.

« Previous Article

Return to Top | Return to Main

Next Article »