November 17: This Date in Los Angeles Transportation History

1978:  The Southern California Rapid Transit District takes the first steps toward a group purchase of 530 “buses of the future” called Transbuses when procurement plans are reviewed with federal government officials, District management and members of other U.S. public transit properties.

230 of the vehicles will go directly to SCRTD while the others partners purchasing them include Metropolitan Dade County Transit Authority (Miami) and Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA).

Transbuses are designed to aid the elderly and physically challenged in boarding and exiting public transit vehicles.

They include lower floors, shorter step-risers, a front end level-changing or “kneeling” feature and a wheelchair ramp.

SCRTD had approved a historic resolution in 1974 requiring that future buses purchased by the District be equipped to accomodated the elderly and physically challenged.

2000:  MTA Board Chair Yvonne Burke, MTA and Caltrans officials dedicated the PCH and Carson Street bus stations – the last to be opened on the 19.5-mile Harbor Transitway. The high-speed bus and carpool lane, which runs down the middle of the I-110 freeway, connects San Pedro, downtown Los Angeles and points between.