Collegiate Times

Each 40-foot hybrid diesel-electric bus cost the BT $545,000.

The Blacksburg Transit recently invested more than $2.8 million into nine new diesel-electric hybrid buses in an attempt to improve public transportation in Blacksburg.

Seven of these new vehicles are standard size buses with comparable capacity to those currently part of the BT fleet. The other two buses are articulated vehicles, which are approximately 60 feet in length.
Articulated buses are made of two separate and connected parts, allowing the bus to bend in the middle. The BT has not received the articulated buses yet, so the exact capacity is currently unknown. Generally, the capacity of an articulated bus is more than 100 passengers.

Fiona Rhodes, marketing specialist for the Blacksburg Transit, said the articulated buses would be important for the BT because they remove another car from the road and eliminate overcrowding on buses.

“I think it is a positive change for everyone involved — riders and residents alike,” she said.

Rhodes said the buses were purchased to not only replace older buses, but to expand on the current fleet.

“I believe all of the buses, particularly the 60 feet long ones, are going to be a great addition to the BT fleet,” said Deborah Freed, alternative transportation manager for Virginia Tech.

The initial costs of the hybrid electric buses are higher, but long-term maintenance costs are lower. Therefore, Rhodes said, the costs are expected to balance out.

Each of the 60-foot long articulated buses cost $871,000. Each of the 40-foot long buses cost $545,000. In comparison, older, non-hybrid buses cost $358,000 per vehicle.

The BT and Tech funded the buses by working together to replace old buses with environmentally friendly alternatives. State and federal funds paid for a portion of the buses and Tech matched this amount. This money came from student transit fees, faculty and staff transportation and portion of every parking permit purchased, Freed said.  

However, Freed said transit fees would not increase because of purchases made by the BT.

“If the transit fee goes up it would not be because of the new buses,” she said.

Freed believes the new buses will provide an effective and stress-free way to get to and from campus. Tech is hoping to increase the carrying capacity, look at areas with overcrowding and eliminate pass-bys with these additional buses.

All nine of the buses, including the articulated vehicles, are hybrid electric buses. The BT chose to purchase hybrid electric vehicles as part of the town of Blacksburg’s “green” initiative, Rhodes said. She said the buses, running on electric power, would maintain a better fuel economy and have a positive impact on the environment. 

Rhodes said this initiative “encourages us to look at alternative fuels that are better for the environment.”

Tech also supports this initiative and the BT’s move to cleaner vehicles, according to Freed. She said that Tech faced a steep raise in diesel fuel prices several years ago, requiring Tech to lessen its dependency on this fuel.

“In times where people are becoming more dependent on public transportation, it is really exciting that the Blacksburg Transit and Virginia Tech are offering enhancements to transit service,” Freed said.

The BT plans to have most of the buses on the road in the fall semester. This will depend on the delivery and preparation of the articulated buses. However, routes may change, so Freed encourages regular riders to check the BT website for alterations.

A version of this article appeared in the Jul 22 issue of the Collegiate Times.