Wichita officials ushered four new transit buses into service Wednesday.
Mayor Carl Brewer and Wichita Transit Director Steve Spade joined city council members and others for the "inaugural ride."
City council members approved a plan Tuesday to purchase as many as 20 buses in the next two years to upgrade the aging fleet of 56 buses. The transit center's fleet travels nearly 2 million miles annually, and it's one of the oldest in the region.
Spade says the new buses are 10 percent more fuel efficient and have fewer maintenance costs, which will help the transit center get more from its operating budget.
The four new buses cost $368,000 each and were funded almost completely with a Federal Transit Administration grant.
They also have a floor at curb level, which allows for easier access for riders with disabilities.
