KAMLOOPS – The future of Kamloops Transit will be driven by one of British Columbia’s most important resources: natural gas. The City of Kamloops will be home to a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) transit fleet, advancing the quality of public transportation for families and the region. A total of 25 new CNG buses will be in service by the spring of 2015.

Compared to diesel, the primary benefit of CNG buses is lower, more stable fuel prices. Additional benefits include significantly quieter engines and simplified emission systems.

“I commend Kamloops Mayor and council and BC Transit for demonstrating leadership and seizing the opportunity to adopt CNG as a fuel source,” said Todd Stone, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure and Kamloops-South Thompson MLA. “The decision to go CNG helps the sustainability of transit, which is an integral part of a successful community.”

Terry Lake, Minister of Health and Kamloops-North Thompson MLA, said: “These buses are quieter and produce lower emissions than the diesel buses they replace, which improves the quality of life for families and communities by reducing air pollution and traffic noise.”

"The early replacement of older diesel buses will help the City of Kamloops reduce its greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with our Sustainable Kamloops Plan. This initiative also supports the Kamloops Airshed Management Plan's first strategy which is to encourage alternative, sustainable methods of transportation and supportive infrastructure," commented Kamloops Mayor Peter Milobar. 
To help offset the initial costs associated with the purchase of the new CNG buses, FortisBC will provide funding of up to $875,000.

“BC Transit continues to lead the way in making natural gas a recognized transportation fuel source,” said John Walker, President and CEO of FortisBC. “Policy changes made by the provincial government helped make this possible and allow fleet operators like BC Transit to take advantage of cleaner burning, lower priced fuel that is abundant in B.C.”
BC Transit has a proud history of fleet innovation. It was the first transit company in North America to introduce low-floor and double decker buses. BC Transit was also the first in Canada to purchase and operate production hybrid buses and to demonstrate the world’s largest hydrogen fuel cell transit fleet in a single location.

“BC Transit is pleased to partner with the City of Kamloops and FortisBC as we expand our CNG fleet,” said BC Transit President and CEO Manuel Achadinha. “The City of Kamloops and BC Transit share a strong commitment to sustainable transportation which made Kamloops a natural choice for CNG buses.”

Kamloops is the second BC Transit community to adopt CNG technology; as announced last year, the first BC Transit CNG fleet will go into revenue service in the Regional District of Nanaimo this spring.

News from © iNFOnews, 2014