The pursuit of an education at Delta College may require travel beyond campus; with an upgraded bus that is now possible.
Last June, Delta College’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously in favor of investing in a new bus to meet transportation needs of students and staff.
“The objective of this purchase is to ensure and secure transportation for District-sanctioned activities and programs. The District anticipates the fleet addition of this unit will increase the ability to support transportation needs while reducing contracted services with Charter bus companies,” reads the passed motion.
The 56-passenger vehicle comes as a welcome upgrade. The previous bus — which now sits hidden behind a storage container, ready to be offloaded — is a 1990 model that is worn down inside and out, with the engine having at least 560,000 miles on it and the interior fabric “diminished.”
The purchase of the bus is also a part of an objective to reduce “contracted services with Charter bus companies,” a move intended to save the school money in the long term.
“It’s for everybody on campus to be able to use,” said Veronica Arroyo, administrative assistant for the Maintenance & Operations department. “Whether it’s an athletic trip or a game or for visiting the universities”
Many features new to this bus lend themselves to making the bus not only a means of transportation, but also an improved and more accessible learning environment.
This includes an “AV (audio-visual system) that’s available so if an instructor [or coaches] want to show previous games, go over some strategies, or an instructor wants to go over some curriculum while they’re going to their destination they have that ability to do so,” Arroyo adds.
Also included is a wheelchair lift to improve accessibility, Wi-Fi and USB ports in outlets placed in front of each pair of seats, as well as a new HVAC system. The newer model boasts several new safety features and tools for drivers, according to Motor Coach Industries (MCI), from whom Delta contracted the coach. Three bus drivers have been trained on the new features.
The use of the bus is not limited to just athletic games, though Arroyo emphasized that “Currently our athletics teams have been utilizing the bus to go to their events.”
Instead, it can be used for any approved field trip. Instructors and coaches can request use of the bus via email, after which it goes through a process of approval from the division dean followed by the collection of signatures from students.
The bus was also recently wrapped in a new exterior design done in collaboration with local business Revamp Signs & Design, who has worked with Delta on projects before.
The bus now shines in gold, white, and black hues with the Delta Mustang mascot emblazoned on its side, awaiting its next educational adventure.
