Monday, January 12, 1998
UCLA introduces environmentally friendly campus shuttle
buses
TRANSPORTATION: New fleet to reduce pollution, will not cut
performance
By Mason Stockstill
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Beginning today, UCLA Transportation Services inaugurates a new
fleet of $2.75 million shuttle buses that run on natural gas
instead of diesel fuel.
Eleven new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses will replace the
1970s-era diesel buses and reduce pollution without sacrificing
performance, according to parking officials.
"We are showing how UCLA can be a leader in making the air
cleaner," said Mark Stocki, director of transportation
services.
"With these new buses, we will be releasing one ton less
pollutants into the air each year," he continued.
The buses get the equivalent of 8 to 12 miles per gallon and can
go about 200 miles on a full tank. Bus drivers said that there was
no noticeable difference in the performance of the new buses
compared to the older models.
"In terms of power, they’re the same," said one driver.
The new buses were unveiled at a ceremony last Thursday, at a
gathering of representatives from Los Angeles municipal government
agencies and other UC campuses.
Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Feuer was on hand to highlight
UCLA’s example for the entire city of Los Angeles.
"Los Angeles is still the most dangerous city to breathe in in
metropolitan America," he said.
Other bus lines throughout the city still use diesel fuel, the
fumes from which are known to be cancer-causing.
"I hope that the city of Los Angeles and the MTA will take a
page from UCLA’s book, and realize that we can do this in Los
Angeles," he continued.
Despite all the hoopla surrounding the new buses, there still
remains the issue of the insufficient number of buses for UCLA’s
growing campus community, as well as insufficient funds throughout
the department.
The new vehicles are replacing the old ones, with no net
increase in the size of the fleet.
"It’s a one-for-one trade," Stocki said. Most of the old buses
will be sold off, he said, except for a few that will be kept as
back-up.
On top of this, the Limited bus route, which was cancelled
without warning at the beginning of this year, has not been
reinstated. This has led to huge lines for Campus Express and
Ackerman Express shuttles in the morning.
The cost of the new buses, approximately $250,000 each, will be
covered by Transportation Services’ alternative transportation
funds, Stocki said.
"These buses will save money in the long run, since the fuel is
cheaper and they have lower maintenance costs," he said.