FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Claudia San Miguel, General Manager, Beaumont Transit
[email protected]| (409) 835-7895
Beaumont Municipal Transit (Zip) Receives a $2,819,460 Federal Grant to Take Its Low Emission Fleet Even Lower
The award was one of just 130 projects funded by President Biden’s infrastructure bill to put better, cleaner buses in communities across America.
The funds, which include a contribution by the City of $499,022, or approximately $100,000 per bus, will be used to replace five buses that have exceeded their useful life. The new GILLIG Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses will increase service efficiency, reduce maintenance expenses, provide low-emission and reliable technology, and have improved engines that reduce NOx and PM emissions by 90 percent more than the old models.
Transit Manager Claudia San Miguel said, “We are extremely grateful to the Department of Transportation for seeing the value in our project and working to improve public transportation across America.”
Benefits
The proven design of the GILLIG CNG bus recorded the highest reliability and the best fuel economy of any CNG bus tested at the Altoona Bus Research and Testing Center. GILLIG buses provide a maintenance-friendly design incorporating an integrated fuel-management panel and easily serviceable components. The GILLIG bus uses the Cummins L9N engine and provides near-zero emissions for the cleanest CNG bus in the industry.
BMT Zip Will Reduce Energy Consumption
The new GILLIG CNG bus with the Cummins L9N CNG engine is more energy efficient than the 14-year-older NABI CNG buses being replaced. Greater fuel efficiency for the bus fleet will reduce energy consumption.
BMT Zip will reduce emissions
The new GILLIG CNG bus with the Cummins L9N CNG engine will reduce harmful emissions. The proposed replacement buses have improved CNG engines that reduce NOx and particulate matter (PM) emissions by 90 percent over early models 15 years ago. The Cummins L9N engine meets the 0.02 g/bhp-hr optional near-zero NOx emission standard, which is 90 percent less NOx than the current standard.
BMT Zip will reduce direct carbon emissions
The proposed new GILLIG CNG buses are more fuel efficient than the CNG buses being replaced. Therefore, reduced fuel consumption from more efficient engines will result in reduced direct carbon emissions.
The current fixed route fleet includes 17 CNG buses.
Additional project benefits include improvements in historically transportation-disadvantaged service areas by providing access to jobs, improving reliability, and contributing to better air quality for a vulnerable population.
About Beaumont Municipal Transit (BMT Zip): Beaumont’s public transportation operate a fleet of 28 buses and paratransit buses with a mission to safely connect our thriving community, and works hard to provide accessible and efficient transportation around town.
