4000-series New Flyer DE60LF
Bus Specifications
| Manufacturer: | New Flyer |
|---|---|
| Model: | DE60LF |
| Propulsion System: | Diesel-electric |
| Length: | 60' |
| Width: | 102" |
| Number of Seats: | 54 |
| Headsign: | LED |
| Accessible: | Yes |
| Air Conditioning: | Yes |
| Low Floor: | Yes |
CTA Service Information
| Service Status: | In Service |
|---|---|
| Series: | 4000 |
| Ordered Quantity: | 208 |
| Numbers: | 4000-4207 |
| Assigned Garages: | 103rd, Kedzie, North Park |
| Delivery Year: | 2008 |
History
On December 12, 2007, the Chicago Transit Board approved reassignment of a contract option originally belonging to Seattle’s King County Metro for the purchase of 150 articulated hybrid buses. Due to a lack of capital funds, the CTA chose to lease the buses at a cost of approximately $13.4 million per year.
Delivery of the buses began in October 2008, with the first bus going into revenue service on October 15, 2008.
On April 7, 2009, CTA President Richard Rodriguez announced that the agency would receive an additional 58 articulated hybrid buses from New Flyer. The $49 million purchase was made possible through federal stimulus dollars provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
The buses are powered by GM-Allison’s parallel hybrid drive system. During the CTA’s testing of two hybrid technologies, the 800-series GM-Allison parallel hybrids proved to be superior to the 900-series ISE-Siemens series hybrids.
The buses feature all the standard CTA amenities, including bike racks, passenger counting systems, GPS and EVDO technologies for voice annunciation and Bus Tracker, security cameras, LED interior lighting, and wheelchair ramps. The shell of the buses use the traditional New Flyer design, and not the newer “restyled” design.