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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