DART looking into natural gas buses

Board comes under pressure.

Steve Hawley, Jan 15, 09.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) officials are looking into replacing their aging bus fleet with natural gas vehicles instead of diesel, after new estimates suggested natural gas was not as expensive as initially thought, according to the Dallas Morning News. Staff members had originally estimated that the cleaner natural gas buses would cost an additional $96 million over 12 years, but a reassessment concluded that the new vehicles would only cost an extra $6 million.

Board members have come under heavy pressure from Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert, who believes that natural gas buses will be an asset to the city. In addition to reducing emissions, Leppert believes a progressive, environmentally-friendly image will help the city lure businesses. DART staff members are still expected to push diesel buses when they present their final recommendations at a January 28 board meeting. Because the natural gas alternative is slightly more expensive, it would have to be approved by a two-thirds majority of the 15 board members.