Commerce Transit Shifts to Green
By Paul Aranda Jr., EGP Staff Writer
Residents in Commerce got a sneak peak on Tuesday at a new fleet of City transit buses scheduled to be in service by the end of the year. The seven compressed natural gas (CNG) buses will replace the current diesel transit buses that do not comply with 2009 emission requirements. The buses were purchased from funds the City received in 2002 from a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant specifically for the purchase of seven new buses.
Commerce residents got a view of the new compressed natural gas bus at a shopping center bus stop. (Photo courtesy of the city of Commerce)
Claude McFerguson, assistant director of transportation, said the new buses represent the city’s efforts to provide residents with excellent public transportation while improving the air quality. According to the Consumer Energy Center Web site, www.consumerenergycenter.org, CNG is natural gas under pressure, which remains clear, odorless and non-corrosive.
The Web site, administered by the California Energy Commission, states that natural gas vehicles show an average reduction in ozone-forming emissions of 80 percent compared to gasoline vehicles. McFurguson estimates the City will save around $1 per gallon compared to diesel fuel. The CNG buses receive 4-miles per gallon, which is around 1 mpg more than the current diesel fleet.
In addition to savings on fuel cost and lower emissions, the new CNG fleet will include features that benefit riders and operators. The fleet will include air conditioning, increased horsepower, which provide operators greater driving control. The new buses will be equipped with seven security cameras. The buses will feature front and side electronic destination signs in English and Spanish, a front wheelchair ramp and a bike rack.
The total price of the seven buses, a combination of the federal grant with local funds, was slightly more than $2.5 million. The city paid an additional $500 to participate in a cooperative purchasing venture with the State of Minnesota. This option allowed the City to receive the buses within nine months of the order.
Jose Castillo, a city bus operator, is looking forward to the better turning ratio and the air conditioning. He said the added comfort allows drivers to concentrate on sharing the road with big rig trucks and the cars trying to pass up the trucks. In addition, the cameras will allow operators to feel safer when the occasional unruly passenger boards the bus.
“If something does happen, then we feel safer, hey someone is watching us.”
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October 16, 2008 Copyright © 2010 Eastern Group Publications, Inc.
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