Nationwide public-transit supplier ATC of Illinois has leased two new buses to the NIU Huskie Line as part of its $2 million contract, said Aaron Langguth, director of transportation for the Student Association.

“Our contract gives us two new buses every year,” Langguth said. Huskie Line houses 13 buses and one van in what Langguth refers to as the “Bus Barn.”

The basis of the contract NIU has with ATC states that replacements for the aging buses come every year when older models are retired, said Charly Battista, general manager for Huskie Line.

Battista estimates that within six years, new buses will have replaced the old ones. They signed the contract in April to supply new buses.

“We’ve got buses out there that are 16 years old,” Battista said. He said the new ones are much easier to maintain, are more dependable and are fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

This year’s model is closer to the ground to allows easier access, Battista said. They also have a wheelchair lift for people with disabilities.

“There were a lot of glitches with that lift [the old lift],” Lannguth said. He said the lift system often broke down.

An additional new feature is the lower floors on the buses, an industry-wide trend in new buses, which allows for more room on the buses, Battista said.

The low-riding buses have more room for standing passengers, Langguth said. There are fewer seats, but more standing room is available.

NIU’s bus system began in 1971 and is one of the oldest college routes in the nation, Battista said. He also boasts that the system has an excellent safety record. Student fees fund the Huskie Bus system.