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(Photo courtesy Miami-Dade County)
The first vehicle of a new allotment of 140 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses was scheduled to be delivered recently to Miami-Dade County’s Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW).
Miami-Dade Transit riders are enjoying a more comfortable and quieter ride on the county’s 420 CNG Metrobuses. Once DTPW receives the complete shipment of the additional brand-new 140 CNG buses, the county’s total number of CNGs will increase to 560 vehicles, which is approximately three quarters of the entire active Metrobus fleet of 767 buses.
With the arrival of all 140 new CNGs, Miami-Dade County will have one of the newest bus fleets in the country. The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) reports that the average bus fleet age among U.S. transit agencies is 7.4 years in 2020. Among all agencies listed, two have a current active bus fleet age of 3.0 years. By way of comparison, the average age of Miami-Dade County’s Metrobus fleet will be 3.3 years once the total number of CNG buses reaches 560 in spring 2021.
“During my administration, we have been working toward the modernization of the county’s Metrobus fleet,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. “It takes vision and determination to be a leader in any industry, public or private. And when it comes to mass transit, the real winners in this and many other Miami-Dade Transit achievements are our county’s residents and visitors.”
The purchase of the 560 CNG buses is one of the most aggressive bus-replacement programs in Miami-Dade County’s history and is helping improve bus service reliability. The 40-foot CNG buses will help generate a positive fiscal impact to the county by providing long-term fuel cost reductions.
“In addition to lowering our fleet’s maintenance and fuel costs, we are receiving Renewal Fuels Standard Credit through the Environmental Protection Agency providing the county added savings from our CNG fleet,” said DTPW director Alice N. Bravo, PE. “In a few months, we will have one of the most modern bus fleets in the United States providing a more comfortable, reliable, and quieter ride for our Metrobus passengers. I am extremely proud of this accomplishment for Miami-Dade County.”
The department received its first order of 300 CNG buses, manufactured by New Flyer, between January 2018 and October 2019. Soon after, another 120 CNG buses, manufactured by Gillig, were delivered to DTPW. The department will receive the first vehicle of another allotment of 140 New Flyer CNGs and the last one from this shipment is expected spring 2021.
