Vicinity Classic

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Vicinity Classic
Years of manufacture 2009 to present
Length 27.5 to 38 feet
Width 98 inches
Power/Fuel Diesel
CNG

The Vicinity Classic (known as the Grande West Vicinity until March 2021) is a low floor, heavy-duty, mid-sized transit bus sold in Canada and the United States by Vicinity Motor Corp. It is available in lengths of 27.5, 30, and 35 feet. The Vicinity Classic was designed at the behest of BC Transit and has been adopted by other transit agencies across North America.

History

BC Transit had relied on cutaway buses for their rural and community transit routes, however these buses were constrained by the use of wheelchair lifts and lack of standee space. BC Transit, together with TransLink and OC Transpo, issued an expression of interest in 2008 for a more conventional low floor transit bus that was under 30 feet. Grande West Transportation was founded by William Trainer in response to that need for a heavy-duty, accessible low-floor community shuttle bus. Grande West worked closely with BC Transit to design what would become the Vicinity.

Grande West sought out Yaxing Motor Coach Company as a manufacturing partner after no feasible North American option was available.[1] Yaxing's experience included manufacturing Mercedes-Benz motorcoaches under a joint venture with DaimlerChrysler known as Yaxing Benz.

The Vicinity bus prototype was delivered in February 2010, as part of a beta-testing program during the Winter Olympics.[2] Initial trials, evaluations and passenger surveys were completed for 21 months during the Vicinity bus’ tour of various BC Transit systems. The trial was meant to expose the bus to a variety of extreme climate conditions and difficult terrain.

In 2011, BC Transit placed an order for 15 buses to further evaluate their performance.[3] Delivery of these buses occurred in August 2013. Sales efforts across Canada have resulted in orders being received and production scaling up.

On production models, the lower front fascia was revised. It features large, single LED headlights with the turn signals positioned in the place of the fog lights that were featured on the initial bus. Beginning with Oakville Transit's 2016 order, the Vicinity may be specified with two-piece slide glide doors and EASB bumpers.

In November 2014, Grande West announced the launch of a 30 foot model at the Canadian Urban Transit Association’s fall conference and trade show in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The 30 foot model was designed with optional two passenger doors, catered to the specifications of the Ontario public transit market. In June 2015, Grande West announced the production of a 35 foot model. Rather than mounted transversely, the engine is mounted longitudinally at the rear; giving a greater rear overhang.

The Vicinity has received certification by the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard, Transport Canada and the British Columbian Ministry of Transportation. The Vicinity was determined compliant with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (“FMVSS”) for the United States in April 2015, allowing the Vicinity bus to be sold to the US market. In November 2016, Grande West announced their first US customer: Standard Parking at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The buses were sold through Alliance Bus Group, the dealer in the US. The following month, Grande West announced that they have received "Buy America" certification which includes 60 percent US component content. This allows the company, through Alliance Bus Group, to bid on public transit opportunities.[4]

At the beginning of 2017, Grande West announced that a compressed natural gas (CNG) fueled option would be available going forward. The bus uses the Cummins Westport ISB6.7 G.[5] In May 2016, BC Transit had signed a contract with Grande West that had options for CNG- powered buses.[6] The order for the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport shuttles also specified CNG. These buses were delivered in 2017.

Along with the CNG option, an option for a 30 foot model with a longitudinally mounted engine became available. With a greater rear overhang, the bus is actually just over 32 feet long. One of the first examples was the CNG-powered buses for the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. By the end of 2022, the 32 foot long model replaced the 30 foot long model after the rear axle used for the transverse engine layout was discontinued. This also meant the 27.5 foot long model was discontinued too.

Towards the end of 2020, Grande West began producing a 38 foot version of the Vicinity. Like the 35 foot Vicinity, the engine is mounted longitudinally at the rear.

  • Original prototype bus on trial with BC Transit.
    Original prototype bus on trial with BC Transit.
  • 27 foot Vicinity.
    27 foot Vicinity.
  • 30 foot Vicinity with stock specifications.
    30 foot Vicinity with stock specifications.
  • 35 foot Vicinity.
    35 foot Vicinity.
  • 30 foot Vicinity with EASB bumpers.
    30 foot Vicinity with EASB bumpers.
  • 30 foot Vicinity CNG.
    30 foot Vicinity CNG.
  • 38 foot Vicinity with optional single-piece rear door.
    38 foot Vicinity with optional single-piece rear door.

Specifications

Measurements
Length: 8.382m (27' 6"), 9.144m (30'), or 10.668m (35')
Width: 2.48m (98")
Height: 3m (9' 8") incl. HVAC
Turning radius 7.925m, 8.900m, or 9.400m
Wheelbase: 4.115m (13' 4"), 4.862m (16'), or 5.700m (18.7')
GVWR: 13,200 kg (29,101 lb), 13,700 kg (30,203 lb), 16,802 kg (37,044 lb)
Engine Emissions Availability
Cummins B6.7 6.7 litre, 220 hp GHG17 2017 onward
Cummins Westport B6.7N 6.7 litre, 220 hp GHG17 CNG, 2018 onward
Cummins ISB6.7 6.7 litre, 220 hp EPA07, EPA10, EPA13, GHG14, EPA16 2009 to 2017
Cummins Westport ISB6.7 G 6.7 litre, 220 hp EPA16 CNG, 2016 to 2018
Transmission Availability
Allison B300R 2016 onward
ZF 6AP1002B - Ecolife 2015 onward
ZF 6HP504C - Ecomat 4 2009 to 2014
Voith D854.6 2016 onward
Axles
Front: BRIST Alxe Systems (Voith) TJ58-225
Rear: Graziano BRA81DC80 drop centre (V-drive) or HanDe single reduction (T-drive)
Suspension
Computer controlled air ride with independent front suspension
Brakes
Four wheel disc brakes
Tires
Front:275 70R 22.5
Rear: 385 55R 22.5
Passenger capacity
23 seated + 16 standees, 24 seated + 18 standees, or 31 seated + 18 standees

Operators

Bolding denotes that this system operates CNG Vicinity Classic buses.

Italics denote that the system only operated demonstrators.

Canada

United States

Demonstrator and engineering units

Fleet number Thumbnail Year VIN Engine Transmission Notes
7130 (BC Transit)
later V2012 		2009 LJSKB6GP29D000703 Cummins ISB6.7 ZF 6AP1002B
  • "Chassis model: JS6830GHDP".
  • Trialed with various BC Transit systems from 2009-2010.
  • Upgraded with EPA 2010 powertrain.
  • Trialed in Penticton in early 2012.
  • Trialed with CMBC in August 2012.
  • On trial with Calgary Transit in September 2012.
  • Displayed at 2012 CUTA Trans-Expo.
March 2013 LJSKB6GP5CD002419 Cummins ISB6.7 ZF 6AP1002B
2014 2G9B30AA9FA098018 Cummins ISB6.7 ZF 6AP1002B
  • 2015 model.
  • 30', two door model.
  • "Chassis model B30A".
  • On trial with Oakville Transit in December 2014.
  • Displayed at 2014 CUTA Trans-Expo.
  • Displayed at 2015 Ontario Transportation Expo.
  • Sold to Transit Cape Breton 7090 in late 2015.
2015 2G9B30AA2FA098023 Cummins ISB6.7 ZF 6AP1002B
  • 30', two door model.
  • "Chassis model B30A".
  • Altoona test bus from October 23, 2015 until May 20, 2016.
2015 2G9B30AA0GA098037 Cummins ISB6.7 ZF 6AP1002B
August 2016 2G9B30AA4GA098056 Cummins ISB6.7 ZF 6AP1002B
  • 30', two door model.
  • "Chassis model B30A".
  • Displayed at 2016 CUTA Trans-Expo
  • Sold to Orangeville Transit; delivered in December 2016
2016 Cummins ISB6.7 ZF 6AP1002B

[8]

  • Presumed specs.
  • 35', two door model.
  • "Chassis model B35A?".
  • Shown to BC Transit staff in September, 2016.
  • Shown to Medicine Hat Transit staff on August 20, 2019.
2017 2G9B33GA7HA098160 Cummins Westport ISB6.7 G Allison B400R
  • 32' CNG, single door model.
  • Chassis Model: B33G
  • Interior has luggage racks, 9 tip-up seats and 17 Leadcom GJ06 seats
  • Displayed at 2017 APTA Expo
  • For sale by Alliance Bus Group

References

  1. ↑ Vicinity bus opportunity. Victoria Regional Transit Commission. 11 September 2012.
  2. ↑ Modern European-inspired Community Test Bus, transitbc.com, retrieved on 2010-11-04
  3. ↑ City hopes to take bus on test drive, bclocalnews.com, retrieved on 2011-07-18
  4. ↑ Grande West Achieves Buy America Certification. Press release. 12 December 2016. Grande West Transportation. Retrieved on 19 December 2016.
  5. ↑ CNG Clean Burning Fuel Option for Vicinity. Press release. Grande West Transportation. 11 January 2017.
  6. ↑ BC Transit awards Grande West a contract for up to 112 Vicinity® buses. Press release. Grande West Transportation. 10 May 2016.
  7. ↑ "La Point commune" (26 July 2013) Association du transport urbain du Québec. Retrieved on 06 October 2013.
  8. ↑ https://twitter.com/GrandeWestTrans/status/781901658389295106?s=20 CEO Driving the 35' Vicinity to Victoria. Posted September 30, 2016, retrieved December 13, 2019.
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