LexTran Moves Forward

This week Lextran unveiled its new hybrid electric buses.  These buses are 2 of the 7 new buses that Lextran purchased with federal money.  5 of the buses are 29 ft. as compared to the standard size of 40 ft.  The shorter size makes these buses more efficient for use on routes with less ridership.

Lextran also has a new website and fare boxes.  The new fare boxes will track the type of fare the person is using, number of riders, and the location at which they are getting on and off.  Lextran has also recently installed 7 security cameras on each bus and in August will install automated vehicle locaters that will let you know when the bus will arrive.  Lextran will also install an automatic bus annoucing system to announce location (which will be helpful for those with vision impairments) and an exterior announcement to let pedestrians know the bus is turning.  I discussed these improvements and the planned new administration building and bus facilities on the corner of Limestone and Loudon  with Rocky Burke, the General Manager of LexTran, when I visited to shoot this month’s  “Council Comments” video.