Miami-Dade County’s Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) will be acquiring new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses as part of its bus replacement program in the coming years.
The Miami-Dade County Commission passed a resolution approving the purchase of 300 CNG buses, along with the financing, development, construction, operating and maintenance of public access CNG fueling stations at two county bus garages.
“We are modernizing our bus fleet and exploring different options that provide sustainable fueling sources while reducing our carbon footprint and improving mobility for our residents and visitors,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. “We are also exploring the possibility of upgrading our bus fleet with electric buses.”
The CNG bus program is for an initial 10-year period, with an option to renew up to an additional 10 years. It is expected to have a positive fiscal impact by providing long-term fuel-cost reductions for the county, while generating revenues in the form of royalty rent from property leases for public access stations that can sell CNG fuel to private and/or public sector entities, and provide a more reliable underground fuel delivery system.
“Our mayor, Carlos A. Gimenez, and our county commissioners have directed us to upgrade our Metrobus fleet with buses that are more sustainable and use greener fuel sources,” said DTPW director Alice N. Bravo, PE. “By upgrading our fleet with CNG buses, we’re implementing a cost-effective approach to the reduction of our dependency on petroleum-based fuel and lowering our maintenance costs.”
The fiscal impact for the initial 10 years in the implementation of the CNG bus program is an estimated $321.6 million. However, this long-term investment can yield significant savings in the long run.
According to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, which began introducing CNG buses in 2015, it estimated a cost savings of more than $200,000 for the life of each bus since CNG costs one third the price of regular diesel fuel.
Through the acquisition of CNG buses, the county also will be eligible for the Renewal Fuels Standard Credit through the Environmental Protection Agency.
CNG buses would be delivered to DTPW over a three-year period, Bravo said. DTPW currently has over 800 active buses in its fleet.
Bravo also said riders will see an improvement in reliability since DTPW will have new buses in its fleet.
Download the free Miami-Dade Transit Tracker app by visiting and start planning for your next trip today. Also available from DTPW is the EASY Pay app. With the EASY Pay app, turn your smartphone into a mobile ticket and just scan to ride.
Don’t forget, riders now can pay for parking via their mobile devices with the PayByPhone cashless app.
