On July 15th, two new CNG buses began running routes as part of the Lafayette Transit System fleet. The new buses are part of the going fleet conversion that began in 2011.
With the addition of the new buses, only one diesel-fueled bus remains for regular route service, and all other diesel buses are a part of the spare fleet.
The buses cost approximately $430,000 and are expected to provide transit services for the next 12 years. The fleet conversion from diesel to compressed natural gas is funded in part through a grant from the Federal Transit Administration with matching funds from Lafayette Consolidated Government.
“ As we convert the fleet to CNG, we are more able to take advantage of lower fuel costs,” Public Works Director Kevin Blanchard said. “This helps make our transit system as efficient as possible.”
All of the fleet’s CNG buses are fueled at the CNG filling station operated by Lafayette Consolidated Government, which was also launched in 2011 as a part of the fleet conversion project. LCG’s CNG fuel station, one of only two in Lafayette, is located at 1505 E. University Avenue and has been open to the public since 2012.