![Nova Bus](/wp-content/archive/Chicago-Magazine/May-2014/What-You-Should-Know-About-the-New-CTA-Buses/bus-shallow.jpg)
In early May, the first of at least 300 new CTA buses—built by the Canadian firm Nova Bus for a cool $148 million—will hit the streets. (That’s 17 percent of the 1,800-bus fleet.) At the same time, 484 of the existing 12-year-old models will head to the scrap yard. Here are eight differences between the two.
![Rear bus window](/wp-content/archive/images/2014/0514/C201405-312-New-CTA-Buses-rear-window.jpg)
1. Brighter
An extra inch of rear window, plus LED lights rather than fluorescents
![Scale](/wp-content/archive/images/2014/0514/C201405-312-New-CTA-Buses-scale.jpg)
2. Heavier
About 40,000 pounds—440 more than the old model (due mostly to a new engine cooling system that CTA says will allow for more fuel efficiency).
![Security camera](/wp-content/archive/images/2014/0514/C201405-312-New-CTA-Buses-security-cameras.jpg)
3. More Security Cameras
10 vs. four before (giving CTA headquarters a better view of any trouble onboard)
![Glass barrier](/wp-content/archive/images/2014/0514/C201405-312-New-CTA-Buses-barrier.jpg)
4. New Barrier
A 0.35-inch piece of glass between the card reader and the driver’s seat (to help protect the driver from unruly riders)
![Speedometer](/wp-content/archive/images/2014/0514/C201405-312-New-CTA-Buses-speedometer.jpg)
5. More Giddyup
A 280-horsepower engine vs. 250 before
![Bus seats](/wp-content/archive/images/2014/0514/C201405-312-New-CTA-Buses-seats.jpg)
6. One Fewer Seat
36 rather than 37. (A CTA spokesman blames wider aisles; he didn’t say how much wider.)
![Card fare reader](/wp-content/archive/images/2014/0514/C201405-312-New-CTA-Buses-card-reader.jpg)
7. Prettier Fare Card Readers
A sleeker box bolted to a yellow handrail
![Flooring](/wp-content/archive/images/2014/0514/C201405-312-New-CTA-Buses-flooring.jpg)
8. Easier-to-Clean Flooring
A solid piece of silicon carbide glass fiber instead of ridged pieces of linoleum