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March 4,
2013: Two new, 35-foot hybrid-electric buses are set to begin
operation in the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority’s
service area in the near future. These hybrid-electric models
operate on battery power at lower speeds and are part of a group
of 10 new buses received recently by TARTA.
“These
buses not only reduce energy operating costs, but they also will
save on maintenance,” said James K. Gee, TARTA’s general
manager. “Estimates are TARTA should experience a 30 percent
saving in miles per gallon with the hybrid-electric buses.”
The
buses, manufactured by Gillig of Hayward, California, use
battery power at lower speeds and switch automatically to the
vehicle’s biodiesel engine at higher speeds. The buses will be
used primarily on TARTA’s fixed-line service.
The
hybrid electric buses were acquired through the Ohio Department
of Transportation’s Clean and Green Program from federal funds.
This $1.2 million investment by ODOT is part of the overall $40
million 21st Century Transit Partnerships for Ohio’s Next
Generation program.
“TARTA is
indebted to both the Ohio Department of Transportation and the
Federal Transit Administration for their help in funding the
purchase of these buses,” Gee said. “We have every reason to
believe these buses are the first of many more hybrid-electric
buses in the TARTA fleet of the future.”
All of
TARTA's buses run on a blend of biodiesel, a domestic, renewable
fuel. TARTA expects to use more than one million gallons of
biodiesel in 2013.
About
TARTA: The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority was formed in
1971 and is a political subdivision under Ohio law, similar to a
park district or a school district. TARTA carries nearly 3.5
million passengers annually and provides interconnected,
regional service to seven communities in Lucas County – Toledo,
Maumee, Waterville, Ottawa Hills, Sylvania and Spencer and
Sylvania townships and Rossford in Wood County.
TARTA can
be contacted by calling 419-243-RIDE (7433) or visiting its Web
site,
TARTA.com.
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