Local News in Brief : 90 Buses Pulled Out of Service by RTD

Ninety buses made by Neoplan USA of Colorado have been yanked from service by the Southern California Rapid Transit District after the discovery of cracks in the suspension system of the rear axles on some of the buses, RTD officials announced Wednesday.

The cracks were found during maintenance and safety inspections, said RTD General Manager Alan Pegg. The problem has not posed any danger to passengers and it will not disrupt service, he said.

“We’re taking this action strictly as a precaution,” Pegg said. “The cracks we found do not present a danger, but multiple cracks could pose a future problem.”

The 90 buses, purchased for $17.2 million, went into service in June, 1987. Mileage on the buses ranges from 10,000 to 40,000; cracks were found in buses with the highest mileage, officials said.

The Neoplan models, which primarily operated on freeway runs, will be replaced temporarily by new buses recently purchased by the agency. Plans to sell older buses will be delayed until the Neoplans are repaired. The RTD’s bus fleet numbers more than 2,400.