LTD to replace seven EmX buses

Lane Transit District Board of Directors approved the purchase of up to seven EmX buses to replace vehicles that have been on the road for 14 years – two years beyond the Federal Transit Administration’s standard 12-year life of a transit bus.

“The EmX buses scheduled for replacement are at the point where maintenance costs will begin to outpace community benefit,” said Matt Imlach, LTD’s director of fleet maintenance. “The fact these vehicles continue delivering service for as long as they have is a testament to the excellent work and care LTD Fleet Maintenance delivers every day to ensure taxpayer investments are maximized.”

The 60-foot New Flyer of America, Inc., vehicles will be ordered through a cooperative buying agreement with the state of Washington and should arrive within 18 months. LTD has begun to integrate battery electric vehicles into its fleet, but the seven new buses will run on Renewable R99 Diesel, just as the rest of the district’s fleet of 28 diesel and 59 hybrid buses do.

“We carefully reviewed fuel options for the new EmX buses, including battery electric, hybrid and hydrogen,” Imlach said. “Our decision came down to range the new EmX buses need to have to stay on the road to deliver service before they come back for refueling, as well as maintenance costs, projected maintenance costs over the life of the bus and costs of the new vehicles themselves, which for electric buses adds $3.85 million to the order. Hybrid buses would add $1.75 million to the total purchase price of the new EmX buses.”

The $7.4 million cost of the seven new buses is being funded through a combination of Oregon Statewide Transportation Improvement Funds and Federal Urbanization Area Formula Funds.

Once the new buses are in service, the previous EmX buses will be sent to auction or disposed of as is required by federal agreements.