The type of bus selected to be the bus for the new Cedar Avenue Bus Rapid Transit system set to launch in late 2012 will be on display at the from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 14.
The public is invited to look at or get on board the new NovaBus at this time.
According to a news release:
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"Construction preparing Cedar Avenue for the buses that will run on the bus-only shoulders began in 2011 and will resume again in spring 2012. Most of the construction will be completed by late fall 2012 with some minor finishing touches completed in spring 2013. Station-to-station service with 15-minute frequency is currently slated to begin in late 2012.
The will be the service provider for the Cedar Avenue station-to-station service, and the MVTA board approved the purchase of the seven vehicles at its board meeting on Dec. 7. The Metropolitan Council is expected to authorize funding at its Dec. 14 meeting.
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The buses are being purchased via the State of Minnesota Cooperative Purchasing Venture in the amount of $3,110,463. Funding for the buses is from two primary sources: a competitive Congestion Mitigation Air Quality grant matched 80/20 by Regional Transit Capital funds, and funds committed by the Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority, which may be augmented by Counties Transit Improvement Board funds.
CTIB collects a quarter-cent sales tax in Anoka, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington counties and a $20 motor vehicle sales tax, permitted by the Minnesota Legislature, to invest in and advance transitway projects by awarding annual capital and operating grants.
In additional to the vehicles, the MVTA will need to purchase cameras, automatic vehicle locator (AVL) system hardware and a parts inventory for maintenance purposes."
Other times and locations to view the new bus in surrounding cities are:
Wednesday, Dec. 14, 9-10 a.m. - Burnsville Transit Station, 100 E. Highway 13, Burnsville
Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2:30-5 p.m. – MVTA Eagan Bus Garage, 3600 Blackhawk Road, Eagan
Thursday, Dec. 15, 9-11 a.m. – Metro Transit Heywood Offices/Garage, 560 6th Ave. N., Minneapolis
Thursday, Dec. 15, 11:30 a.m. -1 p.m. – Metro Transit Overhaul Base, 515 N. Cleveland, St. Paul
Thursday, Dec. 15, 2:30-5 p.m. – MVTA Burnsville Bus Garage, 11550 Rupp Drive, Burnsville
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