Altoona Facility
The Altoona Bus Research and Testing Center, located on Old Route 220 North in Duncansville, Pennsylvania, was established in
1989 by the Pennsylvania Transportation Institute with funding provided by the Federal Transit Administration. The staff at
this center are responsible for testing new model buses as required by federal law to be eligible for federal funding. The Penn
State Bus Research and Testing Facility located near University Park, Pennsylvania, is part of the Altoona Bus Research and Testing Center.
Design Features:
 | 13,000 square feet of garage bay area, including pit area |
| 4,000 square feet of workshop area, including electronic lab, mechanic shop, and welding shop |
| On-site fuel supply |
| Office space for bus manufacturer representatives while their buses are tested |
| Conference and seminar rooms |
| Darkroom and video/audio room |
Equipment:
| 20-ton overhead crane |
| Four-post lift and six-post mobile hoist |
| Exhaust vent system |
| Ballast to load buses to 2.5 times gross load |
| Mechanic's tools, jack stands, floor jack, air compressor |
| MIG welder |
| Tension-measuring load cell apparatus |
| Sound level meter with windscreen, stand, and calibrator |
| White noise generating system |
| Water spray mechanism for simulating rain and traffic spray |
| Static loading apparatus for applying load and anchoring bus |
| Pickup truck with snowplow and cinder spreader |
| Passenger van for transporting bus manufacturer representatives, drivers, or visitors between Altoona and University Park |
| Digital cameras and videotape equipment |
| Dynamometer |
| Forklift |
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