Transbus - Current Developments in Urban Bus Design 730217

This paper presents major developments in urban bus design which are currently in progress under the sponsorship of the Urban Mass Transportation Administration. The paper describes trends in mass transportation since 1945 to illustrate the decline of the transit industry. The needs of the transit industry for a new workhorse vehicle are delineated. The features that are specified for the new 40 ft urban bus (Transbus) are compared with the features of current buses. Three competing prototype bus designs, which are currently under development, are described. Emphasis is placed upon features to improve transit speed, passenger safety, passenger comfort, vehicle aesthetics, environmental impact, vehicle reliability, and maintainability at realistic costs. The program is presented for prototype testing, public demonstration, and pilot production leading to the full-scale introduction of Transbus into the United States urban bus fleet in the latter half of the 1970s.