North American Bus Industries, Inc. (NABI) unveiled its new 5-door 60-foot articulated hybrid-electric BRT bus in September, 2005, then took off criss-crossing the country on its debut promotional tour. Since hitting the road in October, the hybrid 60-BRT has connected with municipalities considering bus rapid transit routes and anxious to inspect the new vehicle. Bill Coryell, NABI vice president of sales, describes the hybrid 60-BRT as "a rubber-tire alternative to light rail." He says the unique style of this bus offers many of the same amenities and features of rail but with the flexibility of a bus route. Eager as well for a firsthand experience after the APTA Expo, BUSRide caught up with NABI in January to get up close and personal with this new vehicle following the Southwest Transit Association conference in Mesa, AZ. NABI offered a demonstration of its merits in typical urban applications on freeways, turnpikes and through crowded city streets.
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