For Immediate Release

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

Optima Bus Corporation Delivers 31 Opus Low-Floor Buses

Wichita, KS – July 25, 2003 – Michael Monteferrante, Chief Executive Officer of Optima Bus Corporation, announced today that Optima has recently delivered 31 Opus low-floor buses to a dozen cities all across America – spanning from Texas to Michigan, and Arkansas to Pennsylvania.

Manufactured at Optima Bus Corporation's state-of-the-art facility in Wichita, Kan, the Opus is available in under 30-ft. and under 35-ft. models. The Opus low-floor buses boast a 10.5" entry height; strong, lightweight, split-pillar, modular aluminum construction, a heavy-duty chassis and a fuel-efficient, low-emission Cummins ISB02 engine.

According to Monteferrante, Corpus Christi, Texas, is augmenting their current fleet with more Opus low-floor buses. "Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority currently runs four 30-ft. Opus low-floor buses," he says. "They have added 13 new Opus 35-ft. buses to their city's fixed-route service." The 35-foot Opus, Monteferrante explains, features the new Cummins ISB02 clean diesel engine, which supplies 275 hp, and the Allison B300R transmission with integral brake retarder.

In addition, Monteferrante says Optima Bus Corporation recently completed delivery of 16 new Opus low-floor buses to Red Rose Transit Authority in Lancaster, Penn. "The buses, which serve the fixed-route service for the city of Lancaster and the outlying communities in Lancaster County, feature a 10-inch step height in the kneeled position, the Cummins ISB02 clean diesel, electronically controlled engine, and a custom exterior color scheme that highlights Red Rose Transit Authority's new identity."

Albert Babinicz, general manager with the Clemson Area Transit System in South Carolina, says Clemson will be adding three more Opus low-floor buses to their transit system. "This brings a total of 12 Opus units that serve both our city and the University of Clemson campus," Babinicz says, adding that Clemson will also use their Opus buses on a fixed route.

Monteferrante says transit properties which have already received Opus low-floor buses include the City of Hot Springs, Ark., which has added two Opus low-floor buses to its fleet; Berks Area Reading Transportation Authority in Reading, Penn.; and Michigan's Ann Arbor Transportation Authority and the Lake Erie Transportation Commission in Monroe.

Transit properties which will soon receive the Opus include LAKETRAN in Painesville, Ohio; Williamsport Bureau of Transportation in Williamsport, Penn; the Regional Transportation Commission in Reno, Nevada; and the Knoxville Area Transit in Tennessee.