Pace unveils new Wheeling Twp. buses

Pace and Wheeling Township officials teamed up Monday to show off a new vehicle type that will be used for localized bus service, such as that provided to seniors.

The community vehicles are slightly smaller than Pace's suburban paratransit vehicles. They offer more space than conversion vans but are easier to maneuver and service than larger vehicles, officials said. The vehicles are designed for easy entry and have a rear lift.

A federal grant is paying for 28 of the vehicles.

The vehicles will be used in programs Pace develops with local units of government, tailored to the needs of a particular area.

"These vehicles and our Locally Based Service program give communities the flexibility to set up a transportation program that is the best fit for their needs, whether that means a dial-a-ride program like Wheeling Township or a bus route that circulates residents within their community," Pace Chairman Richard Kwasneski said in a prepared release.