MTA Places Four New ENC Eldorado Passport-HDs Into Service

MTA proudly announces that four new buses begin operating this week:

Began service today, December 2

1. Bus #719 — East Macon, Block 2

Begin service Thursday, December 3

2. Bus #720 — West Macon, Block 2

3. Bus #721 — Ocmulgee Express

4. Bus #722 — Bellevue Express

Note: The term “Block” refers to a particular schedule on a route. All Block 1 buses begin service at 5:20 a.m. All Block 2 buses begin service at 5:40 a.m. The Eisenhower route has a Block 3 which begins service at 5:50 a.m. Houston Avenue Block 2 begins service at 5:45 a.m. A complete list of routes and schedules can be found on our website: mta-mac.com under “schedules” (https://www.mta-mac.com/about-macon-transit/schedules/) and on paper schedules in the Transfer Station. 

The Passport-HD is 35-feet long with a capacity of  21 passengers + 3 wheelchairs or 31 passengers + standees. However, currently, due to the pandemic, in an abundance of caution, MTA allows a maximum of 15 passengers on all fixed route buses. 

Cutaway buses, affectionately referred to as “church buses,” have a nearly flat entrance to make entry/exit, especially for wheelchairs, as easy as possible and are equipped with a front-end bike rack.  

MTA CEO Craig Ross says, “Out of necessity, over the past two-and-a-half years we have replaced 19 buses, including eight this year — a critical investment. Our once aging fleet was modernized in 2020 with the four ENC Eldorado Passport HDs; two New Flyer Xcelsior HD-35 buses which began service on September 14, and “Sparky” and “Bolt” our two new zero-emission electric buses manufactured by BYD which began service on November 16.”