Providing Transportation for the Mexican State of Baja California

Transportes de Baja California Flxible Metro B

Type: Public

Union Representation: Not Unionized

Fleet Size: Unknown, Approximately 250-300

Routes: Unknown, Service adapts as demand changes

Manufacturer and Powerplant: The State of Baja California acquires used American transit buses and school buses to be used in its bus fleet as purchasing used vehicles is more cost effective than buying new units and as such the organization does not have much say in the vehicles engine or fuel types. The entire fleet consists of Diesel powered units from manufacturers ranging from the now defunct Flxible to GM, New Flyer and Orion. Domestically procured units come from the Mexican truck and bus manufacturer DINA.

Transportes de Baja California Flxible Metro B

Fare Collection: Fares are paid in cash and fluctuate with the rush hour traffic often found in cities such as Tijuana. There is no contactless card payment system in place in Baja California. One is planned to be implemented with the construction of a new BRT system in Tijuana and the purchase of new buses for the first time.

Transportes de Baja California Flxible Metro B (35 Foot Variant)

Livery and Registration: Buses in Tijuana are often referred to as "Azul Y Blancos" meaning Blue and Whites after their distinctive paint scheme. After the system acquires a new vehicle and its mechanically sound the buses are given a fresh blue and white paint scheme along with a fleet number which festoons the front and sides. Interestingly the tires are also given a whitewall paint job as well. The destinations of each bus are written on the windows due to the destination sign's computer software being uncommon and unsupported in Mexico. The Buses carry license plates issued by the State of Baja California. Azul Y Blancos do sell the sides for advertising space.

Transportes de Baja California GM Fishbowl in service in the late 1990s

Innovations: Despite infrequent service and a notably older fleet Transportes de Baja Calfornia is one of the more organized transit systems in Mexico outside of Mexico City which has the greatest amount of funding. The system will be receiving a $70 Million update to purchase newer buses and create a BRT system in the city of Tijuana which will link the smaller routes to the U.S. Border Crossing. Tijuana is popular destination for American bus fans because of the older fleet. Buses that are nearly 30-40 years out of date can still be found roaring down the streets picking up people as transit buses.

Buses at work in Tijuana