June
10, 2010
Michelle Coats, APR, CPRC
Community Information Specialist
You are invited to Hop On Votran’s first
fixed route hybrid bus
In celebration of National Dump the Pump Day, Volusia County Council members
and Votran officials will unveil Votran’s new hybrid fixed-route buses and
recognize National Dump the Pump Day, 12:30 p.m.*
on June 17 between the Historic Courthouse and Thomas C. Kelly
Administration Building 123 W. Indiana Avenue, DeLand.
(*Time subject to change, pending
County Council's morning schedule June 17.)
Votran's hybrid fixed-route buses buses are environmentally friendly
vehicles funded by
the $8.4 million investment Votran received from the 2009 American Recovery
and
Reinvestment Act.
The $5.2-million bus purchase includes nine 35-foot Gillig
low floor buses. These
vehicles were acquired with the assistance of a State-wide pooled
procurement contract.
Benefits of this pooled procurement mean best pricing per bus and quality
assurance. Votran
has accepted delivery of these buses and they will be going into service at
the end of June.
Votran management cites fuel economy and air quality as
two considerations of hybrid
technology. Hybrid vehicles tout reduced carbon emissions and are more
efficient than
traditional diesel vehicles. In fact, the manufacturer of the Gillig
hybrid-diesel model claims the
vehicles offer a fuel-economy savings of 20 to 40 percent, and decrease
emissions by 25 to 35
percent over traditional diesel vehicles.
Hybrid vehicles have a minimum vehicle life of 12
years/500,000 miles. It offers a
premium pay back of about nine years through savings on brake life; fuel
costs and mid-life
engine rebuilds. When stopping or decelerating, vehicle energy is converted
to electrical energy
and stored, with a longer brake life.
BACKGROUND: NATIONAL DUMP THE PUMP DAY
Votran annually joins forces with other public transportation
systems nationwide to
participate National Dump the Pump Day. Sponsored by the American Public
Transportation
Association (APTA), the National Dump the Pump Day encourages people to ride
public
transportation to save money, protect the environment, reduce America's
dependence on
foreign oil, and improve our quality of life. The country's continued
economic challenges also
are a factor when considering public transportation.
Individuals can achieve an average annual savings of more
than $8,000 by taking public
transportation instead of driving and by living with one less car. And for
every $1 invested in
public transportation infrastructure, $6 is generated in economic returns to
communities.
Public transportation saves 900,000 automobile fill-ups each day – 4.2
billion gallons of
gasoline per year. Switching to public transportation can reduce individual
carbon emissions by
20 pounds per day or 4,800 pounds per year. Public transportation systems in
the U.S. help to
create a healthier environment by reducing smog-producing pollutants and
greenhouses gases.
When compared to private vehicles, public transportation produces nearly 50
percent less
carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide per passenger mile.
BACKGROUND: AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT
The “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, 2009” [Pub. L.
111-5; “ARRA”], signed
into law by President Barack Obama Feb. 17, 2009, included $8.4 billion for
transit
improvements. Votran will receive a total of $8.4 million in federal transit
funding from the
economic-stimulus measure passed by Congress and signed by President Obama.
The
infrastructure-focused federal economic stimulus funding allows 10% to be
used for operating
expenses.
Votran is using the $8.4 million in
ARRA funds to accomplish the following:
- Upgrade a planned bus replacement of five vehicles
with hybrid-electric powered
buses rather than standard diesel engines and purchase three fixed route
vehicle
replacements advanced from 2009-2010 (for a total of $4,858,507)
- Purchase four buses (cost of upgrade to
electric-hybrid) to provide transit
connections to SunRail, a commuter rail system expected to be
operational in
2013 ($354,438)
- Upgrade five paratransit vehicles from diesel to
hybrid-electric power ($700,000)
- Improve local infrastructure to increase passenger
accessibility ($500,000)
- Reduce consumption by conducting an assessment of our
facilities and identify
progressive solutions to reduce consumption, save energy and lower
expenses
($1,167,180).
- Operating assistance valued at $840,000.
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