Published Online: July 15, 2013

Omaha-area districts get new propane school buses

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Students, parents and drivers should notice a quieter, greener ride aboard school buses in the Omaha and Millard school districts this fall.

The districts have a new fleet of 435 propane-powered school buses, the Omaha World-Herald reported (http://bit.ly/1badiRJ) Saturday.

Bus company officials said it's the largest propane school bus fleet in the country, ahead of the Portland, Ore., and Los Angeles Unified school districts.

Even taxpayers should notice a difference, as the buses will bring a fuel savings. The environmentally-conscious will note the buses spew 60 percent less carbon monoxide than diesel buses.

"This is a game-changer in our industry," David Prince, the Omaha general manager of Student Transport of Nebraska, said Friday at the company's new facility in Omaha, from where it will operate the new fleet.

Denis Gallagher, chairman and chief executive officer of Student Transport Inc. of Wall, N.J., said he's been working with bus manufacturer Blue Bird over past five years to perfect the propane buses.

Blue Bird's assembly plant in Fort Valley, Ga., has been making the new fleet's buses over the past two months. The last bus is scheduled to arrive Wednesday to a ribbon-cutting ceremony that Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman is scheduled to attend.

Gallagher said the price of propane buses has run higher than traditional fuels buses, but the large order for Millard and Omaha brought the price down.

The Millard and Omaha school boards approved a four-year, $25 million-a-year agreement with the company, which replaced longtime bus contractor First Student. The Omaha Public Schools portion will be $19.5 million a year, an annual savings of about $300,000 a year from the previous contract. Millard will pay the remaining $5.5 million. The agreement includes an option for a two-year extension.

The company is contracting locally with Sapp Bros. to provide the propane, he said.

Propane buses get between 5 and 6 miles per gallon, compared to diesel's buses' 7 to 8 miles per gallon. But propane's lower price still makes for savings, Gallagher said.

Propane costs about $1.60 a gallon, and diesel about $3.65 a gallon.

For longer routes and other trips, the company will keep nearly 100 diesel buses in Omaha.

———

Information from: Omaha World-Herald, http://www.omaha.com


You must be logged in to leave a comment. Login | Register
Ground Rules for Posting
We encourage lively debate, but please be respectful of others. Profanity and personal attacks are prohibited. By commenting, you are agreeing to abide by our user agreement.
All comments are public.

Back to Top Back to Top

Most Popular Stories

Viewed

Emailed

Recommended

Commented