New hybrid buses (quietly) travel Rockland's roads
Some TOR bus riders may have noticed something different about their trips lately: They're quieter, smoother and not as polluting.
In the past several weeks, the county has been rolling out its new electric hybrid buses. Six of the buses have been rotating along different routes, such as the 59, 93 and 95, while 10 more buses undergo final inspections.
"By the end of the week, they should all be out on the road," said Irwin Cohen, Rockland's travel-demand management coordinator.
The buses, powered by a clean diesel hybrid electrical propulsion system, mark the county's first advance toward transitioning its entire Transport of Rockland and Tappan ZEExpress fleet of 66 buses to electric hybrid by 2016.
"It's exciting for those who use the system, and it's exciting for those who may not use the system but may benefit from the greener buses that use less fuel and cleaner fuel," County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef said Tuesday.
The county spent $8.8 million — an average of $550,000 per bus — for the 16 hybrids, which were built by Gillig Corporation of Hayward, Calif. The Federal Transit Administration paid 80 percent of the cost, while the state Department of Transportation picked up 10 percent. The balance was covered by transportation funding that comes to the county from Mortgage Recording Tax revenue.
Nine more hybrids — six for TOR, three for Tappan ZEExpress — will arrive late next year. Federal stimulus money and federal grants will pay for them. Additionally, Coach USA and Monsey Trails, which serve commuters, have also ordered six hybrids.
The hybrids cost $100,000 more than a conventional diesel bus, but transit officials said they're worth the extra cost. They use less fuel and require less maintenance because their parts, such as their brakes, don't experience as much wear and tear.
Source: New hybrid buses (quietly) travel Rockland's roads
In the past several weeks, the county has been rolling out its new electric hybrid buses. Six of the buses have been rotating along different routes, such as the 59, 93 and 95, while 10 more buses undergo final inspections.
"By the end of the week, they should all be out on the road," said Irwin Cohen, Rockland's travel-demand management coordinator.
The buses, powered by a clean diesel hybrid electrical propulsion system, mark the county's first advance toward transitioning its entire Transport of Rockland and Tappan ZEExpress fleet of 66 buses to electric hybrid by 2016.
"It's exciting for those who use the system, and it's exciting for those who may not use the system but may benefit from the greener buses that use less fuel and cleaner fuel," County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef said Tuesday.
The county spent $8.8 million — an average of $550,000 per bus — for the 16 hybrids, which were built by Gillig Corporation of Hayward, Calif. The Federal Transit Administration paid 80 percent of the cost, while the state Department of Transportation picked up 10 percent. The balance was covered by transportation funding that comes to the county from Mortgage Recording Tax revenue.
Nine more hybrids — six for TOR, three for Tappan ZEExpress — will arrive late next year. Federal stimulus money and federal grants will pay for them. Additionally, Coach USA and Monsey Trails, which serve commuters, have also ordered six hybrids.
The hybrids cost $100,000 more than a conventional diesel bus, but transit officials said they're worth the extra cost. They use less fuel and require less maintenance because their parts, such as their brakes, don't experience as much wear and tear.
Source: New hybrid buses (quietly) travel Rockland's roads
