Unitrans 3536-4350

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4350 waiting for passengers at the Silo Terminal (photo taken in 1996)

4349 and its fleetmates on Howard Way headed for their ribbon cutting ceremony at the MU Terminal (photo taken in 1996)

4347, 4348, and 4349 lined up at the MU terminal for their ribbon cutting ceremony (photo taken on April 9, 1996)

Unitrans 4344, 4345, and 4346 lined up at the MU Terminal for their ribbon cutting ceremony (photo taken on April 9, 1996)

Unitrans 3536-4350 are fifteen Orion V transit buses operated in regular service by Unitrans in Davis, California. Purchased in 1996, they were the first buses that were bought new by Unitrans since 1982. More significantly, they were the first Unitrans buses fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG). Their purchase signalled the start of a move by Unitrans to a CNG fueled bus fleet, with the purpose of reducing exhaust emissions. Their purchase also triggered a need for a CNG fueling facility that was constructed at the Unitrans garage. The purchase of these buses was part of a joint order placed by Unitrans, Yolobus, and Sacramento RT.

Upon unveiling on April 9, 1996, all 15 were driven in a single line from the Unitrans garage to the Memorial Union terminal, where a ribbon cutting ceremony was held. On their arrival at the MU Terminal, several GM buses left, a symbolic gesture to suggest "out with the old, in with the new." Among those in attendance was Congressman Vic Fazio who spoke and helped to cut the ribbon.

[edit] Technical Specifications

Manufacturer: Orion Bus Industries

Model: Orion V 05.504 (3536-3542), Orion V 05.501 (4343-4350)

Date built: 1996

Engine: Cummins L10G, fueled by compressed natural gas

Length: 35 feet (3536-3542), 40 feet (4343-4350)

Width: 8½ feet

Seating capacity: 35 (3536-3542), 43 (4343-4350)

Date acquired by Unitrans: April, 1996

Current status: Unitrans Fleet - Active

[edit] References

Unitrans Homepage, unitrans.com, Retrieved on 2006-12-17
UC Davis Transportation and Parking Services (2001-10-15). TAPS 2001 Fleet Inventory, Davis, CA: University of California, Davis
Sacramento Area Council of Governments (2005-11-09). SACOG Region Transit Vehicle Inventory, as of October 3, 2005, Sacramento, CA: Sacramento Area Council of Governments.
The Unitrans Pool, flickr.com, Retrieved on 2006-12-17
Mark's Unitrans Photo Gallery, loft22.com, Retrieved on 2006-12-17
Gillig Corporation, gillig.com, Retrieved on 2006-12-25
Stauss, Ed (1988). The Bus World Encyclopedia of Buses, Woodland Hills, CA: Stauss Publications. ISBN 0-9619830-0-0