Grand Rapids expands mobility with BRT buses from New Flyer

ST. CLOUD, MN, Oct. 15, 2018 /CNW/ - (TSX: NFI) New Flyer of America Inc. ("New Flyer"), the U.S. subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. ("NFI"), the largest transit bus and motor coach manufacturer and parts distributor in North America, today announced that the Interurban Transit Partnership ("ITP"), the organization responsible for operating the Public Transportation Authority of Grand Rapids Metro Area ("The Rapid"), has awarded New Flyer a new contract for 16 heavy-duty, sixty-foot Xcelsior^® compressed natural gas transit buses (32 equivalent units or "EUs").

The 16 new articulated buses will support Grand Rapids' second new bus rapid transit ("BRT") line, with funding provided by the Federal Transit Administration and the Michigan Department of Transportation.

The Rapid has experienced a ridership increase of seven million since 2000 due to population growth, route development, and smart, transit-wide improvements including BRT. With BRT, wait times have decreased, area congestion has reduced, and economic development has increased.

"What the Laker Line will offer is larger buses that can carry more riders, making the route more efficient," said Michael Bulthuis, spokesman for The Rapid. "The articulated BRT buses can carry up to 50% more passengers than the forty-foot buses that currently operate on Route 50."

Recent initiatives by The Rapid will also add transit signal priority and electronic fare technology, which The Rapid is calling The Wave, to improve route and boarding times and create a smarter, more convenient transit system.

"New Flyer is proud to offer connected BRT solutions for Grand Rapids," said Wayne Joseph, President, New Flyer of America. "We commend The Rapid for leading the evolution in BRT transportation, and through this work, continue to champion smart mobility development that delivers seamless, sustainable, and efficient passenger experience, while increasing public transit ridership."

The Interurban Transit Partnership of the Grand Rapids Metro Area serves six cities with transit bus, paratransit, vanpool, and BRT. More than one third of the agency's buses will be converted to compressed natural gas by 2020 with goals to convert the entire fleet by 2027, creating a more environmentally friendly transportation network.

The NFI Group has over 88 years of experience manufacturing buses. It is the only provider of full suite bus solutions in North America, offering transit, motor coach, and low-floor cutaway buses, and in 2018, became the first bus manufacturer in the world to sign on to the Shared Mobility Principles for Livable Cities.

About NFI Group

With nearly 6,000 team members, operating from 31 facilities across Canada and the United States, NFI is North America's largest bus manufacturer providing a comprehensive suite of mass transportation solutions under several brands: New Flyer® (heavy-duty transit buses), ARBOC® (low-floor cutaway and medium-duty buses), MCI® (motor coaches), and NFI Parts™ (parts, support, and service). NFI buses incorporate the widest range of drive systems available including: clean diesel, natural gas, diesel-electric hybrid, and zero-emission electric (trolley, battery, and fuel cell). For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, NFI posted revenues of US $2.4 billion. NFI common shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol NFI. News and information are available at www.nfigroup.com.

About New Flyer

New Flyer is North America's heavy-duty transit bus leader and offers the most advanced product line under the Xcelsior® and Xcelsior CHARGE™ brands. New Flyer actively supports over 44,000 heavy-duty transit buses (New Flyer, NABI, and Orion) currently in service, of which 7,300 are powered by electric motors and battery propulsion and 1,600 are zero-emission. Further information is available at www.newflyer.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements relating to expected future events and financial and operating results of NFI Group that involve risks and uncertainties. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, investors cannot be assured that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements, and the differences may be material. Actual results may differ materially from management expectations as projected in such forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons, including market and general economic conditions and economic conditions of and funding availability for customers to purchase buses and to purchase parts or services, customers may not exercise options to purchase additional buses, the ability of customers to suspend or terminate contracts for convenience and the other risks and uncertainties discussed in the materials filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Due to the potential impact of these factors, the NFI Group disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable law.                  

SOURCE New Flyer of America Inc.