TARC Awarded $5.1 Million Grant To Modernize Fleet
10/01/2011
Thanks to a $5.1 million grant awarded by the federal Department of Transportation, the Transit Authority of River City (TARC) will be removing 15 of its older buses from the street and replacing them with clean diesel buses over the next 12 to 18 months, officials announced today.
“The buses replaced under this grant are 15 years old and not as environmentally friendly as these clean diesel buses,” TARC Executive Director J. Barry Barker said. “Clean diesels produce less carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and other particulates that are harmful to the air we all breathe. So while our fleet gets newer, our air gets cleaner – the benefits are many.”
The 15 new clean diesel buses will join 17 clean diesels that were placed into service in 2009. TARC’s fleet also includes 22 buses powered by hybrid electric power – under another federal grant, 11 new hybrid buses will be added over the next year.
TARC’s fleet includes 210 buses and trolleys and travels 45 routes in five counties in Kentucky and Southern Indiana.
“These new energy-efficient buses will not only improve public transportation in Louisville, they will save money by cutting costs and improve the quality of the air we breathe well into the future,” said Congressman John Yarmuth (KY-3).
TARC was selected for the $5,104,515 grant on a competitive basis through the DOT’s State of Good Repair Program, which mandates that buses beyond their useful lives should be replaced with the grant proceeds. A local match of approximately $1.3 million will be required to complete the purchase of the new buses.
“Public transportation is seeing a shift towards new and improved technology that is safer for the environment,” Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said. “TARC’s newer buses will also save on fuel and maintenance costs – and create a better experience for the passenger.”
More Information:
Diesel buses become cleaner and more efficient with each new model year. TARC’s 17 clean diesel buses placed into service two years ago have resulted in these estimated benefits:
- They’ve produced 6,900 (64%) less carbon dioxide than the 1994 model year buses they replaced. That’s the approximate size of a full-grown African Elephant.
- They’ve cumulatively emitted 23,000 pounds (51%) fewer oxides of nitrogen (NOx). At an average weight of 180 pounds, that’s 128 people.
- More than 3,600 pounds (84%) less particulate matter (PM) has been produced. That is close to the weight of an average car of light duty truck.
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