SMART Adds 2 Hybrid Electric Articulated Buses to Fleet

myFOXDetroit.com - SMART is adding two new hybrid electric articulated buses to its fleet. The first of its kind in southeast Michigan, the new hybrid-electric vehicles will help SMART accommodate riders along high-demand routes while helping the environment. Purchased with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus funds these environmentally friendly buses are 61 feet long and can accommodate up to 100 riders.

Play the video in the player as Fox 2's Murray Feldman gets an inside look with SMART General Manager John Hertel.

The new hybrid electric articulated buses will placed into service after SMART drivers and maintenance staff has received the appropriate training. On November 1, 2010, the buses will operate on routes 560 Gratiot, 415 Greenfield, along Woodward on routes 465 Auburn Hills Limited and 475 Troy Limited, as well as 495 John R during the times and along the segments where the ridership demand is extremely heavy. In total, nearly 10,000 passengers travel each day on these SMART routes.

SMART is Southeast Michigan's only regional transit system, serving Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties. Recognized nationally as an innovator in community-based service for its unique partnerships with 75 communities, SMART serves an average of 13 million riders annually.

For more information, visit smartbus.org