By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority is stepping up is effort to go green. It will be purchasing 91 new clean buses. 24 will be hybrid buses and 67 will be new clean diesel fuel buses.
Western New York Congressman Brian Higgins appeared at the NFTA Cold Springs garage on Main Street in the City to announced that nearly $40 million in federal transportation funding will be provided for the purchase.
Higgins and NFTA leaders say the new buses will replace older, less efficient buses and reduce costs. But the new fleet of buses will also help decrease the use of fossil fuel and reduce emissions. NFTA executive director Lawrence Meckler says the new buses will help save the Authority $300,000 a year in fuel and maintenance costs.
The new buses should be hitting the streets in the next 18 months. Riders should notice a big difference new hybrid bus and 14 year old Metro bus.
"Most of the hybrid buses are quieter, even the new diesel fuel buses are quieter and less exhaust. I think it is just a feel," said Meckler