Does Boston need a different kind of school bus?
Advertisement
That inspired me to look at bid specifications for Massachusetts municipalities that contract out to private companies for bus service. Some Massachusetts municipalities (eg,
About 18 percent of American school buses for which the design is known were type D buses, and they predominate in some states, including California. (Some states, including Massachusetts, do not collect data on school bus type, which is why the national figures aren't complete.)
Here's an example of what a flat-front looks like, from a major bus manufacturer:
Introducing the all-new Saf-T-Liner HDX2 model. With a new exterior look, improved corrosion protection and enhanced product quality, we're proud to share the latest updates to our Type D product line! For details, read the full release here:
— Thomas Built Buses (@ThomasBuiltBus)
As you've probably guessed, there are also type A and type B buses, which are smaller vehicles.
Advertisement
Every so often, the esoteric question of school bus design does bubble up in public debates in Massachusetts. In 2015, for instance, Acushnet officials defended cuts to bus monitors by saying
Whether a bus of that design would have made any difference in the Hyde Park accident is impossible to say. Flat-front buses also have disadvantages, including that they are generally about $25,000 more expensive per bus, according to a
Also, I don't want to fearmonger: type C buses are safe. All school buses are safe. The benefits for Boston of flat-front buses, if there are any, would be small.
According to a district official, the city is always evaluating the mix of vehicles in its fleet, but that as the need for door-to-door transportation has been growing the district has generally moved to smaller vehicles. Large transit-style buses are too big for the city's needs, the official said, and would have a harder time navigating narrow city streets.
I certainly don't claim the expertise to say whether the city has made the right call. If you do — and I know that a few bus experts read this newsletter — please
This is an excerpt from
, a Globe Opinion newsletter about the future of transportation in the region. Sign up to
.
Advertisement
Alan Wirzbicki is Globe deputy editor for editorials. He can be reached at
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
2 hours ago
- Business Insider
Tesla Slashes EV Leasing Prices by 40% in UK Amid Sales Slump
American electric vehicle (EV) maker Tesla (TSLA) is forced to offer up to a 40% discount to its EV leasing companies in the UK to counter a slump in sales. The news was first reported by The Times, citing industry sources. British motorists can lease a Tesla EV for just over half of what they paid last year. Two main reasons cited for this discount are the sales slump and a lack of storage space caused by unsold Tesla EVs in the UK. Elevate Your Investing Strategy: Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence. In July, Tesla's UK sales plunged by nearly 60% to 987 units, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Tesla is facing intense competition from Chinese EV makers, especially BYD (BYDDF), which has been rapidly growing its footprint globally. Tesla's EV market share dropped to 0.7% in July, while BYD's grew to 2.3% of all new EV registrations in the UK. How Will Discounted EV Leasing Help Tesla? Tesla is offering up to a 40% discount to leasing companies, who will in turn pass the discounts on to final consumers in the form of cheaper monthly plans. For example, a Tesla Model 3 can now be leased for merely £252 a month plus VAT on a 36-month lease at Silverstone Leasing, one of Tesla's partners in the UK. Comparatively, last year, a Tesla Model 3 lease would cost customers between £600 and £700 a month. Furthermore, Tesla is offering zero-interest finance deals for its EVs in retail stores to boost sales. This move is expected to cost Tesla $6,000 over three years for a £40,000 EV. These steps also ensure that Tesla shifts more units without dropping the headline price of vehicles. Tesla is responding to the sales slump by offering financial incentives to both leasing companies and end consumers. Meanwhile, in Canada, Tesla is offering unlimited lifetime Supercharging on all new Model 3 inventory vehicles to boost sales of new EVs. It remains to be seen how these promotional efforts will help Tesla regain lost market share in the highly competitive EV market. Is TSLA Stock a Good Buy? Wall Street remains cautious about Tesla's long-term stock outlook. On TipRanks, TSLA stock has a Hold consensus rating based on 14 Buys, 15 Holds, and eight Sell ratings. The average Tesla price target of $307.23 implies 7.1% downside potential from current levels. Year-to-date, TSLA stock has lost 18.2%.
UPI
10 hours ago
- UPI
$1M will be awarded to transportation innovators with cost-saving ideas
Aug. 18 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Transportation on Monday launched its new million-dollar idea challenge targeted at the future of American transportation and infrastructure initiatives that will lower costs and improve safety. The infrastructure unit in DOT's version of its federal Advanced Research Projects Agency unveiled its new open-call challenge to U.S. innovators in both public and private sectors as an opportunity to "transform" the future of American transportation. "Our new Ideas Challenge will continue that proud tradition and support the development of new 21st century technologies to launch us forward," Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement. Federal transportation officials characterized it as a "showcase" that will highlight "innovative concepts" that ultimately will "improve safety, lower costs and enhance America's infrastructure." Duffy said the United States "invented transportation innovation," noting everything from Wilbur and Orville Wright's historic first manned flight to the U.S. Apollo space missions. According to DOT officials, the total prize purse for all Stage 1 and 2 cash prizes awarded will be a maximum of $1 million. Winners will be recognized by USDOT leadership and a "distinguished panel" of private and public sector judges. They will also be included in "in-depth" policy discussions over their ideas and proposals. The two-stage challenge unfolds by first identifying a "critical transportation infrastructure challenge" with initial concept papers due by September 17. The winners in the Round 1 phase will then be invited to a workshop in the fall in order to present to stakeholders and department leadership, and then urged to submit a detailed proposal for Stage 2. Only the first 10 finalists will be chosen to advance to early next year's ARPA-I Ideas Challenge Final. On Monday, officials at Washington-based Transportation for America said in a social media post it's past time that politicians "stop whining about potholes and actually require their state DOTs to set targets" to improve road conditions. States like Pennsylvania and New Jersey have long been mocked for its notoriously bumpy road conditions with road construction a year-round process. The Smart Growth for America-backed group said such targets included improving pavement both on U.S. interstates and legacy highways "that run through so many of our communities," they wrote. "Start your innovation engines!" the U.S. transportation chief declared in the open invite to American innovators. A pre-registered webinar is slated for Wednesday.
Business Insider
11 hours ago
- Business Insider
Take a look inside 'The Beast,' Trump's $1.5 million bulletproof presidential limousine
When US presidents aren't flying on Air Force One or taking helicopter trips in Marine One, they're driven around in a presidential limousine nicknamed "The Beast." Weighing in at 20,000 pounds and outfitted with advanced security and communications systems, the newest model of "The Beast" debuted during the first Trump administration in 2018. It reportedly cost around $1.5 million to build. The vehicle made headlines in August when Russian President Vladimir Putin rode in the limousine alongside President Donald Trump as the two met in Alaska to discuss the war in Ukraine. Take a look inside the famous vehicle. US presidents travel in a secure limousine nicknamed "The Beast." US presidents rode Lincoln limousines for most of the 20th century until the 1980s, when the Reagan administration switched to Cadillacs. The latest model of the presidential limousine was commissioned by the US Secret Service in 2014 and used for the first time in 2018 by President Donald Trump. Designed to look like a longer version of a Cadillac XT6, the chassis of the car is actually that of a Chevrolet Kodiak truck produced by General Motors, NBC News reported. The vehicle weighs around 20,000 pounds and cost around $1.5 million to build. The heavily armored vehicle is bulletproof, blast-resistant, and sealed to withstand biochemical attacks. While details about the limousine's security measures remain classified, NBC News reported that the vehicle features a night-vision system, tear gas firing capabilities, and door handles that can be electrified to prevent intruders. The windows are believed to be 3 inches thick, and the vehicle's armor is around 8 inches thick. "The Beast" is also equipped with medical supplies, including a refrigerator stocked with the president's blood type. The limousine's secure communications system is able to dispatch the launch codes for nuclear weapons. The presidential seal appears throughout the design of the car. The seal, featuring an eagle holding an olive branch and 13 arrows in its talons below a banner reading "E Pluribus Unum" ("Out of many, one"), appears on both the interior and exterior of the passenger door. The limousine can seat up to seven people. The interior features water bottle holders and plush leather seats. Previous presidential limousines have also included a fold-out desk, according to the US Secret Service. "The Beast" travels with the president. Presidential limousines are transported by military cargo aircraft, such as US Air Force C-17s, for use during the president's travels, according to the US Secret Service. When abroad, the presidential limousine flies the American flag and the flag of the host country. When Biden visited the UK in June 2021, the presidential limousine flew both the American flag and the Union Jack. On Inauguration Day, Secret Service agents change the car's license plates as a new president takes power. On President Donald Trump's second Inauguration Day, Secret Service agents gave "The Beast" a good shine. Biden and Trump rode to the 2025 inauguration ceremony together in the presidential limousine. Accompanied by the presidential motorcade, "The Beast" remains an instantly recognizable symbol of the power of the presidency. "It is safe to say that this car's security and coded communications systems make it the most technologically advanced protection vehicle in the world," the assistant director for the US Secret Service's Office of Protective Operations said of "The Beast, " according to the US Secret Service's official website. Putin and Trump rode in "The Beast" together. Ahead of a meeting on August 15, 2025, to discuss the war in Ukraine, Trump and Putin unexpectedly rode in the car together. The ride lasted fewer than 10 minutes, NBC News reported, and offered the leaders the opportunity to talk privately. Putin can be seen smiling from within the vehicle.
