Ann Arbor continues hybrid bus expansion with 7 new buses

The hybrid section of the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority’s bus fleet continues to grow with the addition of seven new buses this summer.

That means 27 of the fleet’s 69 buses are hybrids. AATA hopes to switch the entire fleet over to hybrids by 2015. It plans to do this by replacing buses at the end of their 12-year lifespan. AATA bought its last ‘standard’ fuel-powered bus in 2003. The next hybrid bus delivery will be four in the summer of 2010.

“Our goal is to switch over the entire fleet as soon as we can,” says Mary Stasiak, manager of community relations for Ann Arbor Transportation Authority. “It’s all based on the funding available.

The hybrid buses are built by Hayward, California-based Gillig Corp and are significantly more fuel efficient. AATA has saved more than 100,000 gallons of bio-diesel from its first 20 buses, saving $270,000 in fuel costs to date. AATA originally projected 25 percent fuel savings, but now it looks like it will save up to 30 percent.

The hybrid buses also produce lower levels of pollution, making them a key component of Mayor John Hieftje’s initiative to make Ann Arbor more environmentally friendly. Recently, the city started a campaign to transition all its facilities to 30% renewable energy by 2010.

Source: Mary Stasiak, manager of community relations for Ann Arbor Transportation Authority
Writer: Jon Zemke