14th July, 2010
About 50 employees and spectators gathered at Regional Transit System headquarters Tuesday, enduring the midday sun to check out the latest additions to the RTS bus fleet.
"I know it's a little hot right now, but inside the buses have air conditioning," said Jesus Gomez, the RTS transit director.
After a brief introduction by Gomez and RTS Marketing and Communications director Chip Skinner, Mayor Craig Lowe cut the ribbon spanning one of the 17 new buses, and the audience was invited for a look at the crisp, cool interior of one of the buses.
The Gillig Low-Floor buses run on B20 biodiesel, a mixture of 80 percent diesel fuel and 20 percent biofuel made from animal fat and vegetable oils.
The "partially renewable" technology emits 6,000 tons less carbon monoxide and saves $150,000 in operating costs per year over traditional buses, Gomez said. Biodiesel gets 5 to 10 percent more miles per gallon than regular diesel. In addition, the 17 new buses will drop the average age of the fleet to from 9.6 years old to 7 years old, improving efficiency and reliability, RTS says.
RTS will also add two new bus routes in Gainesville, Skinner said.
Route 23 will run from Santa Fe College to the Oaks Mall, and Route 25 will go from McCarty Hall on the UF campus and pass through the downtown area before heading north to the Gainesville Regional Airport.
The changes take effect Aug. 16.
Gomez said the older buses being replaced will be auctioned off on eBay after they are salvaged for parts. He said the old buses can fetch anywhere from $1,500 to $5,000.
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