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Cleveland could soon expand the fleet of extra-long buses zipping along its streets. The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority is expected to vote in two weeks on whether to award a $16.3 million contract to New Flyer of America for 23 "articulated low floor coaches" -- 60-foot buses with accordian-like connectors in the middle. An RTA committee recommended the purchase Tuesday. The special buses are cost effective along busy routes because they carry more passengers. They are one of the main components of the HealthLine on Euclid Ave. RTA also uses articulated buses on Lorain Ave. (#22) and Detroit Ave. (#26). Five of the new 60-footers would be used on those routes. Another 18 are slated for the transit improvement project about to get underway on Clifton Blvd. in Lakewood and Cleveland. Source: http://www.cleveland...s_to_lease.html Don't miss the first link as it includes photos of bus 3017! (appears to be a D60LFR)

Metro takes extra-long electric bus for test drive on the Orange Line http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-electric-bus-20141227-story.html Gary Spivack, division transportation manager for Metro, said the testing of the articulated electric bus was positive; operators enjoyed driving the bus based on the smooth ride and quiet inside, and passengers enjoyed being in the bus, he said. "It was a successful test," Spivack said. "It's striking in terms of its appearance." He said Metro hasn't made up its mind about ordering the 60-foot bus, saying range is a paramount issue when it comes to any electric bus. "We need something that goes 250 miles a day," Spivack said. The cost for the electric articulated bus is about $1.2 million, Riley said. In contrast, a comparable natural-gas articulated bus sells for $800,000. . . . The bus runs on eight lithium iron phosphate battery modules, four to a side, that provide enough charge for more than 170 miles, Holtz said. In lab tests, the batteries have a life cycle of about 27 years, about twice the life span of an average bus, he said. The bus can hold up to 120 passengers. The zero-emission bus, named the Lancaster after its birthplace at the BYD manufacturing facility, was unveiled in October at the American Public Transportation Assn. Expo in Houston. Its next big appearance was on the Orange Line, where Holtz said the bus was praised for its quietness.