Choctaw Nation transportation officials shown with the new buses include (left to right) Jim Hogan, Ashley Robinson, Cole Osborn, Jeff Penz, Trish Singleton, Misty Hendricks, and Janie Dillard.
Transportation for tribal members gets an upgrade
By Zach Maxwell
Choctaw Nation
Durant, Okla. - The Choctaw Nation has invested in six new passenger buses that will take elders and tribal members on journeys throughout the U.S. in the coming years.
“This new investment of six brand new VanHool buses to our fleet will definitely raise the bar for our transportation department,” said Janie Dillard, Director of Gaming for Choctaw Nation. “The Chief and Tribal Council made the decision to invest in the lives and well-being of our Choctaw Nation members.”
The investment of nearly $3 million represents the commitment of Chief Gary Batton, Assistant Chief Jack Austin Jr. and the Choctaw Nation Council in enhancing the lives of tribal members, especially elders, said Cole Osborn, senior manager of transportation at Choctaw Nation.
“Moving down the road is quite a joy” in these new buses, Osborn said. The features of the 45-foot, 56-passenger buses are designed to make traveling comfortable, while improving fuel efficiency and cutting carbon waste.
“It gets twice the mileage of conventional buses and the exhaust can be breathed directly by humans,” Osborn said. “It is that clean. This bus is eco-friendly.”
Some of the hands-on features that tribal members will notice include a restroom, an ADA wheelchair lift, surround sound and video monitors, USB ports and power outlets for “all kinds of electronic devices.” Osborn said the technology capabilities on the new buses will allow for slide shows and other displays for training or entertaining while the bus is in motion.
He also said the seats recline, but not onto the passengers behind each seat. These are just a few of more than 100 custom features listed by VanHool and its distributor, ABC Companies.
Safety features include all-wheel disc brakes for quick stopping, and seat belts for all passengers. The refueling range is 1,200 miles.
The new buses, technically called a VanHool CX 45-foot Premier Passenger Coach, will replace several units that had surpassed 500,000 miles of service.