New Metro Mobility buses sport a new look, new technology

St. Paul, MN — Metro Mobility’s first hybrid electric vehicles are now on the road.


by Melissa Reurink on December 28th, 2009

Metro One Mobility


The 15 new buses, purchased with federal stimulus dollars, replace 15 high-mileage diesel vehicles in the existing fleet. Metro Mobility is a public transportation service for people with disabilities and is operated by the Metropolitan Council.

Here’s one of the new Metro Mobility vehicles that has been added to the fleet. The buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts and other safety features and cost $110,000 each.

The funds to purchase the buses came from $70.6 million appropriated to the Council earlier this year by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for metro-area transit projects. The bulk of the stimulus dollars for transit were used to purchase 90 buses for the Metro Transit fleet, 27 small buses for dial-a-ride service, and help reduce a projected transit shortfall.

“The Council fared very well under the stimulus program,” said Chair Peter Bell. “We not only secured new vehicles under this program, but vehicles that are more fuel efficient. That’s very much a priority for this Council.”