BC Transit operates New Flyer Xcelsior CNG buses.
As part of a series of announcements being made to unveil details of the almost CAD 160 million in federal and provincial funding for BC Transit projects first announced in June, the Government of British Columbia has now provided details of several localities that will benefit from the initiative. The roll out of projects are part of phase one of the new Public Transit Infrastructure Fund said Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone.
The City of Kamloops, 350 km northeast of Vancouver, is receiving another 19 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses to add to their fleet of cleaner, more efficient CNG buses. These new vehicles will come online next year to replace older diesel buses. CNG-fuelled buses reduce operating costs for BC Transit and for Kamloops as the fuel is less expensive and has a smaller carbon footprint compared to traditional transit vehicles.
Manuel Achadinha, president and CEO of BC Transit: “With this additional funding, we will be able to expand the CNG fleet in Kamloops which will support the environment. The enhancements in technology will improve safety for operators and customers and lay the foundation for a more effective transit system in the City of Kamloops.” BC Transit introduced CNG buses to Kamloop in January 2014.
Prince George, even further north, is funded for a new and expanded operations and maintenance facility that will support a fleet of CNG buses. (CAD 23 million – USD 17.5 million)
The Cowichan Valley, on Vancouver Island, is set to receive a boost to transit infrastructure with a new and expanded transit operations and maintenance facility. The new facility will enable the future introduction of CNG buses. (CAD 15 million – USD 11.4 million)
The Abbotsford-Mission metropolitan area, which shares its southern border with USA, will be getting a new and expanded Central Fraser Valley Transit operations and maintenance facility that will support a fleet of CNG buses. (CAD 28 million – USD 21 million).
These projects project will position these locations to meet a growing demand for transit in addition to improving operational efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
(Source: Government of British Columbia)
