The Chapel Hill Town Council recently approved two resolutions to replace up to 53 buses with newer, energy efficient diesel buses. The resolution aims to replace the town's older buses, 42 of which are over 14 years old.
Brian Litchfield, director of Chapel Hill Transit, said the transit department will replace the old buses with diesel ones in the near future.
He said new technologies have allowed diesel buses to be much more efficient.
When compared to diesel buses from 2000, these new buses will produce 94 percent less nitrogen oxide per mile, 98 percent less particulate matter and 89 percent less hydrocarbon, council member Ed Harrison said.
“Due to the significant number of buses needing to be replaced, cost of alternatively fueled vehicles and associated infrastructure and scarce financial resources, the funding partners agreed to invest in clean-diesel buses,” Litchfield said.
He said the buses will cost $40 million, including charging infrastructure. Litchfield said some funding for the buses will come from the state, the federal government and matching funds from the transit system.
How the town is getting the buses:
- Chapel Hill Transit and the Chapel Hill Town Council agreed to partner with the City of Durham and GoTriangle (TTA) to fund the diesel buses.
- There are current negotiations and recommendations for the town council to sign a contract with Gillig, a transit bus manufacturing company.
- The five-year contract does not obligate the town council to buy a certain number of buses.
Town council member Nancy Oates said the town would likely proceed with negotiations and a contract with Gillig.
