For Immediate Release

For more information contact:
Steve Kratzer
Marketing and Business Development Representative
steve.kratzer@optimabus.com
316-779-7700 ext. 344

Optima wins $17.2M Chicago contract

Wichita, KS – September 15, 2005 – Ken Vandruff - Wichita Business Journal

The Chicago Transit Authority will buy up to 125 new buses from Optima Bus Corp. in a contract worth $17.2 million.

The base purchase is 50 of Optima's 30-foot Opus buses with options for an additional 75. Deliveries will start in 2006.

The CTA will use the Opus buses on routes where narrow streets or lower ridership call for smaller vehicles.

"Upgrading the bus fleet with these smaller buses will allow CTA to better allocate its resources throughout the service area, much like having the right tool for the job," says Frank Kruesi, CTA president.

The Chicago buses will include surveillance cameras, bike racks, next stop announcement system and automatic passenger counters.

Optima's corporate headquarters and production facility is located in Park City, just north of Wichita. In addition to the Opus bus, Optima manufactures the American Heritage Streetcar.