Retired MTA Regional Bus Operations demonstration bus fleet


The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has tested single buses from time to time, usually on loan from the manufacturer.
YearBuilder and model nameLength
ImagePowertrain
NumbersTotalNotes
1979Grumman-Flxible
870A
40Detroit Diesel series 8V71T
Allison V730
1001This bus was purchased by the MTA and renumbered to 199. It was not built to the same specifications as the rest of the order. For more information, see here.
1979General Motors Corporation
RTS-03
40Detroit Diesel series 6V71
Allison V730
2001This was the first New York City Transit Rapid Transit Series bus, and a prototype for future orders.
1981Hino Motors40Hino diesel engine950-9523These three buses were tested in New York and eventually returned to the manufacturer.
1981Renault PR10040Renault engine960-9612These two buses were tested in New York and eventually returned to the manufacturer.
1982DAC
117 UD
55.77N/A1300-13012These articulated buses were tested by Metropolitan Suburban Bus Authority in Nassau County and eventually were sent back to the manufacturer.
1983MAN
SG-310-16.5-2A
60MAN D2566 MLUM
Renk-Doromat 874B
89901This bus was tested in Staten Island for express bus service. It was eventually sold to the Westchester County DOT, becoming bus 661, and has since been scrapped.
1983Prevost Car
Marathon
4589931This bus was tested in Staten Island for express bus service.
1983Neoplan USA
AN460 suburban
60Detroit Diesel series 8V92TA
Allison HT741
89941This bus was tested in Staten Island for express bus service.
1983Eagle Bus
Model 10-SC
40N/A8998-89992These buses were tested in Staten Island for express bus service.
1984Bus Industries of America

01.508 suburban
40Detroit Diesel series 6V92TA99001This bus was tested in Staten Island for express bus service and was eventually sent back to the manufacturer. This bus was diverted from an order by Capital District Transportation Authority in Albany, New York.
1984MAN
Americana
40MAN D2566 MLUH
Renk-Doromat 874B
99011This bus was tested in Queens for local bus service.
1983
Motor Coach Industries
MC-9A
45Detroit Diesel series 6V92TA
Allison HT740
59501This bus was an Academy Bus unit leased from New Jersey Transit and tested in Staten Island for express bus service.
1985General Motors Corporation
RTS-06 suburban
40Detroit Diesel series 6V92TA
Allison V730
99021This bus was tested in Staten Island for express bus service.
1989Ontario Bus Industries

01.508 CNG
40Cummins L10G N/A1This bus was a compressed natural gas demonstration bus.
1989Ontario Bus Industries

05.501
40Detroit Diesel series 6V92TA
Allison HTB748
819901This bus was tested in Brooklyn and would also demo with New Jersey Transit. It was eventually sold to Transit Windsor in Ontario, Canada, becoming bus 499, and has since been scrapped.
1992Volvo B58E44Volvo Engine9255-9733-9737-?4These buses were tested in a bus rapid transit demonstrative line in Manhattan, based in Curitiba Transport System. Made in Brazil by Vlvo with Marcopolo and Caio bodies. Nicknamed Speedybuses by New York City residents. They returned to Curitiba after few days in New York City.
1985
Neoplan USA
AN460
60Detroit Diesel series 6V92TA
Allison HTB748
819921This bus saw revenue service in Manhattan on the route M15 before being returned to Neoplan USA. It was eventually sold to Tri-County Transit, becoming bus #846.
1993Neoplan USA
AN440 suburban
40Detroit Diesel series 6V92TA819931This bus saw express service in Staten Island before being returned to Neoplan USA.
1993Motor Coach Industries
102C3
45Detroit Diesel series 6V92TA819941This bus saw express service in Staten Island before being returned to Motor Coach Industries.
1994Flxible
Metro D 40102-4D
40Detroit Diesel series 50
Allison VR731RH
N/A1This bus saw local service in Manhattan and Brooklyn before being returned to Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.
1996Orion Bus Industries
06.501
40Detroit Diesel Series 30
Lockheed Martin HybriDrive
N/A1This was New York City Transit's first hybrid and its first low floor test bus. It features three axles as well as three entrance and exit doors. The bus has since been returned to Orion Bus Industries.
1997New Flyer Industries
D40LF
40Detroit Diesel series 50F19971This bus has been returned to New Flyer Industries.
1998Northrop Grumman
Advanced Technology Transit Bus
40Cummins CNG engine and electric propulsion systemATTB-31Also called "Stealth Bus." This bus was built from a composite material to make it stronger, lighter, and more durable. Another notable design feature is a zero-emission propulsion system. The bus was tested in Brooklyn and it has been returned to Northrop Grumman.
1998Nova Bus
RTS-06 Hybrid
40Cummins ISB 5.9L
Allison Es Hybrid System
99001This was the second hybrid test bus for New York City Transit. This bus has been returned to Nova Bus.
1998Nova Bus
LFS
40Detroit Diesel series 40E
Allison B400R Gen III
9951This bus has been returned to Nova Bus.
1999New Flyer Industries
D60LF
60Detroit Diesel series 50
Allison B500R Gen III
3064T1This bus saw local service in Manhattan before being returned to Metro Transit in St. Paul, Minnesota.
2005Gillig
Phantom Hybrid
40Cummins ISB 5.9L engine
Allison EP40 Hybrid system
57701This bus tested the GM-Allison hybrid electric drive. It ran throughout Manhattan and The Bronx in 2005, but has since been returned to Gillig.
2003
Van Hool
AG300
60Cummins ISM 10.8L
Voith D864.3E
N/A1This bus was borrowed from AC Transit in Oakland, California.
2006
New Flyer Industries
D60LF
60Caterpillar C9N/A1This bus was borrowed from New Flyer for demonstration purposes.
2006ElDorado National
Transmark RE PHEV
30Unknown powertrain systems18221This Bus was tested by Long Island Bus and has since been returned to ElDorado National.
2007Orion Bus Industries
07.501 Next Generation
40Cummins ISB 5.9L ULSD and BAE Systems HybriDrive1292, 1294, 12953
  • These buses saw local service in Queens. All were returned to Orion and experienced different fates:
  • * 1292 was rebuilt and retrofitted with lithium ion batteries and a tailpipe diffuser.
  • * 1294 was rebuilt and retrofitted with lithium ion batteries. In 2008, it was tested by OC Transpo. It was sold to Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation in late 2009.
  • * 1295 was rebuilt and retrofitted lithium ion batteries. In 2007, it was tested by OC Transpo and was later displayed at the CUTA Trans-Expo. It was sold to MTB Transit Solutions in 2009.
2007DesignlineMK-IV hybrid35Capstone C30 MicroTurbine 99001This bus, owned by Wachovia Bank, saw local service in Manhattan and Queens.
2007
Citaro G 58.85Mercedes Benz OM 457 hLA, BlueTec 4
Voith D864.3E
00511This bus saw local service in Manhattan before being returned to Mercedes Benz.
2007
Nova Bus
LFS
62Cummins ISL-330 EPA-2004
Voith D864.5
00541This bus was tested under New York City Bus. It was returned to Nova and was sold to Saint John Transit in September 2009.
2008Prevost Car
X3-45
45Detroit Diesel Series 60 EGR
Allison B500R Gen IV
00521This was tested on Staten Island and Bronx express routes.
2008Van Hool
TD925
44.5Cummins ISM 450 with ZF AStronic 12 speed transmission00531This bus was tested by MTA Bus and New York City Transit.
2008
Nova Bus
LFS
40Cummins ISL-280 EPA-07
Allison B400R Gen IV
00551This bus was tested under both MTA Bus and New York City Bus and was returned to NovaBus.
2010New Flyer Industries
Xcelsior
41.2Cummins ISL-280 EPA-07 8.9L
Allison EP40
hybrid system
00581This bus was tested under New York City Bus and was placed in local service on the B6 in Brooklyn. It was returned to New Flyer and was sold to Academy Bus in August 2015.
2011Nova Bus
LFX Artic
62Cummins ISL9 EPA10
ZF 6AP1700B
00591This bus was tested under New York City Bus and was placed in local service on the M15 in Manhattan. It was returned to Nova and was eventually sold to Clemson Area Transit in December 2012.
2013BYD Auto
K9 electric bus
39.37Permanent magnet synchronous propulsion motor00601This bus was tested under New York City Bus and was placed in local service on several routes in Manhattan.
2014New Flyer Industries
Xcelsior
40Cummins ISL9 EPA-10
Allison H 40 EP
hybrid system
E311This bus was tested under MTA bus company out of JFK depot in Queens.
2017Proterra
Catalyst
40UQM PowerPhase® HD 220 Electric Drive
EATON EEV-7202
00211This bus was tested under New York City Bus out of Grand Av depot in Queens.
2017
Alexander Dennis
Enviro500 "Super-Lo"
45Cummins L9 EPA-17
Allison B500R Gen V
00221This bus was tested under New York City Bus and operated on the X17J on Staten Island and Manhattan.
2018Motor Coach Industries
D45 CRT LE
45Cummins ISX12
Allison B500R Gen V
00231This bus was tested under New York City Bus and MTA Bus.