Kansas City buses are taking another step forward in clean air technology. The Kansas City Area Transit Authority has added 15 new compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles to their fleet and have ordered more to be delivered next fall.
CNG buses will provide significant fuel cost savings, and at the same time, produce less pollution than the diesel buses they replace, according to the authority. KCATA introduced the first two vehicles last summer.
“We are committed to clean air technology,” said Mark Huffer, KCATA general manager. “These CNG vehicles will join our hybrid-electric and clean diesel buses, along with our alternative energy support vehicles.”
The CNG vehicles will be phased in until all vehicles in the fleet are replaced, which the ATA expects to save up to $4 million a year in fuel costs. KCATA is also building a fast fill transit CNG fueling station and making some changes at its headquarters to accommodate the new vehicles.
KCATA purchased eight 40-foot CNG buses at $438,000 each and seven 30-foot CNG buses at $427,000 each. Eight more CNG buses will arrive in fall 2014. The buses are being purchased with a federal grant.
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