Working again in Tinseltown: after a 20-year absence, articulated buses return to L.A.; Metro Liners can haul 117 passengers in style

Diesel Progress North American Edition, Jan, 2005 by Bill Siuru

In 2005, for the first time in 20 years, articulated buses will again be seen on Los Angeles streets. Los Angeles Metro is purchasing 200 high capacity Model 60-BRT buses from North America Bus Industries Inc., Anniston, Ala. The 60 ft. Metro Liner Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses will operate on many of L.A.'s busiest bus corridors and on the Metro Orange Line. Each bus costs more than $600,000 and delivery of the first 30 is scheduled to be completed by June 2005. The remaining 170 will be delivered by June 2006.

The 60-BRT bus is 20 ft. longer than the standard transit bus with the front and mar sections having wheelbases of 239 and 279 in., respectively. A bellows-like articulated joint between the two sections helps the long buses negotiate curves and corners. The outside turn radius of 44 ft. is said to be on par with many passenger cars. The Metro Liners are designed to provide rail-like service for as many as 57 seated passengers--45% more than the 39 riders carried by the standard transit buses now in service--and up to 60 standing passengers.

Most noticeable is the 60-BRT's sleek, aerodynamic styling that sets it apart from the bread-box look of most of today's transit vehicles. Up front, the huge one-piece windshield and equally-large side windows provide the driver with outstanding visibility. Commuters will also appreciate the large glass windows with graffiti-resistant sacrificial liners on the interior. Windows can be opened for ventilation at the top.

"The Metro Liner promises to take public transit in Los Angeles to a new level," said Frank Roberts, Lancaster mayor and Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board chairman. "This vehicle is a head-turner and so impressive in person that I believe it will attract many new riders to the Metro System and provide our existing customers with service the likes of which they've never experienced."

The 60-BRT is powered by a Cummins Westport L Gas Plus engine running on compressed natural gas. The six-cylinder engine is equipped with a Holset variable geometry turbocharger and delivers 320 hp at 2300 rpm, with 1000 lb.ft. of torque at 1400 rpm.

The engine is mated to an Allison B500R six-speed transmission with integral retarders. With its fully cradle-mounted configuration, the transmission can be removed or installed in less than an hour, according to North American Bus.

The 60-BRT bus has an electrically welded stainless-steel Structure, a bonded FRP sheet roof, stainless side skins and skirts, FRP end caps, and chromated aluminum and FRP access doors. The structure is epoxy coated externally.

Both the entire underfloor area, as well as the insides of the roof and side skins are undercoated to prevent drumming and condensate formation. Wheel housing, main electrical compartment and battery compartment are stainless steel.

ArvinMeritor front, center and rear axles are used. The beam front axle assembly has a central upper torque rod, parallel lower torque rods, lateral Panhard rod, dual air springs and dual telescopic shock absorbers. The center and rear axles are bolted to H-type walking beams that incorporate V-type upper torque rods, parallel lower torque rods, quadruple air springs and quadruple telescopic shock absorbers.

All driver's instruments and controls are located on a wrap-around instrument cluster and side console. This sophisticated bus features a central onboard diagnostic panel with LED (light emitting diode) displays. The driver has a tilting and telescoping steering wheel and for maximum comfort, a dedicated air conditioning booster with multispeed control.

The integral power steering gearbox has a two-piece drag link with idler. Stopping power is provided by a Bendix FMVSS-121-compliant air brake system with ABS. The brakes themselves are ArvinMeritor DiscPlus disc brakes with antilock feature. The 60-BRT is fitted with 305/70R 22.5 tires on single-piece aluminum wheels.

Twenty-two of 60-BRTs will be deployed on the Metro Orange Line, a 14-mile exclusive transitway due to open in 2005. The Metro Orange Line will carry passengers in approximately 40 minutes from the Warner Center in the West San Fernando Valley to the line's future North Hollywood Station, where passengers can connect to the Metro Red Line subway. The remaining 178 Metro Liners will operate on many of Metro's highest ridership corridors, including Wilshire Boulevard and Vermont Avenue.