Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 2, 1993 TAG: 9310020243
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
It could happen by next year. Valley Metro is studying the feasibility of buying several buses that run on compressed natural gas.
Natural-gas buses are more expensive than the traditional diesel-powered buses - about $60,000 to $70,000 higher per vehicle, depending on the manufacturer.
And the cost of fuel is higher for natural-gas buses than diesels.
Still, Valley Metro is considering acquiring some natural-gas buses because they cause less pollution and environmentalists favor them.
The bus company opened bids Friday for 18 diesel buses, with an alternate bid for five natural-gas buses that could be substituted for five of the diesel vehicles.
The low bid for the diesel buses was $191,460 each, with a combined bid of $3.4 million for all 18. It was submitted by the Gillig Corp. of Hayward, Calif.
The low price for the natural-gas buses - $257,955 each, $1.3 million for all five - was offered by Bus Industries of America of Oriskany, N.Y.
Stephen Mancuso, Valley Metro's general manager, said he is concerned about the higher costs and reliability of natural-gas buses.
If the bus system buys natural-gas buses, it will also have to buy a $500,000 fueling station. One full-time worker would be needed to operate and maintain the station.
If electric power goes off because of a storm or the refueling station breaks down, Mancuso said, there would be no way to refuel.
"If there was a problem with the gas, it could shut us down [if all of our buses were natural gas]," Mancuso said. "That is a real concern."
Mancuso said he has met with Roanoke Gas Co. officials to discuss natural-gas buses and plans to meet with them again.
"The fueling station is the biggest issue. A lot of details would have to be resolved," he said.
Barbara Duerk, a member of the city Planning Commission, has urged Valley Metro and City Council to buy the natural-gas buses to reduce pollution.
As are other cities, Roanoke's air is being polluted by emissions from motor vehicles, especially buses, she said.
"Let's clean up our buses. Downtown is full of exhaust fumes. We need to buy non-polluting buses," said Duerk, a bicycle enthusiast.
She said the city needs to offer incentives for people to ride the buses so there will be fewer automobiles and less pollution.
Mancuso said several transit systems across the country are using natural-gas buses.
"Some people like them, some people hate them, and some say there is no big difference," he said.
Mancuso said the company sought bids for only five natural-gas buses because it wants to try them on a limited basis.
"We want to be sure that if we buy some and have problems, it won't cripple service," he said.
The new buses will be purchased with nearly $3.7 million in federal and state grant funds.
Valley Metro officials will review the bids and gather more information on the gas issue before making a recommendation to City Council this month, Mancuso said.
Mancuso said the new buses will replace five 1976 models and 13 1979 models. With the new vehicles, the oldest bus in the fleet of 38 buses will be a 1988 model.
by CNB