Published on November 07, 2024
StarTran to expand paratransit service beginning November 7
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird and Lincoln Transportation and Utilities Director Liz Elliott today said the completion of a new StarTran compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station at 445 South Eighth Street will immediately benefit residents through expanded paratransit services in Lincoln.
Beginning Thursday, November 7, paratransit service will increase to an average of 40 more trips per day for passengers on weekdays and weekends.
“By enabling our StarTran buses to refuel more efficiently, we save both time and money, which frees up resources for our City to provide even more public transportation options for our community members,” said Mayor Gaylor Baird. “Furthermore, this effort supports our Climate Action Plan goal to transition all vehicles in our City fleet to electric or alternative fuels by 2040.”
Joining Mayor Gaylor Baird and Director Elliott were Carla Cosier, Assistant Transit Director, Kaylie Hogan-Schnittker, StarTran Advisory Board Member, and City Council Member Bennie Shobe.
The new $6.3 million CNG station is Lincoln’s largest and is funded by a 2018 $825,000 grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust and a 2018 $2.6 million bus and bus facility grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration (FTA), 2022-23 $2.15 million annual FTA funding, and $770,000 in local StarTran funds.
StarTran will use the new CNG station to fuel 41 buses and 11 paratransit vans. Compressed natural gas is a sustainable renewable fuel source that is more environmentally friendly than diesel fuel. StarTran first invested in CNG in the 1990s when it purchased its first CNG fueled vehicle. In 2019, Black Hills Energy donated CNG fueling equipment to StarTran, which allowed the transit system to fuel its paratransit vans.
Elliott said the downtown location of the new CNG station allows StarTran to reduce fueling time from 45 to 10 minutes per bus. CNG fuel costs have also been reduced from an average of $5 per gallon to an average of $3 per gallon, saving StarTran $729,571 in fuel annually. These efficiencies save significant labor hours that will be reinvested into other StarTran services, such as the expanded paratransit service, she said.
“This project marks a significant milestone as we work toward cleaner, more efficient public transit, and ultimately, a healthier environment for all Lincoln community members,” Elliott said.
Cosier said the new CNG station is large enough to handle 20 years of potential growth in the number of CNG vehicles in StarTran and other City department fleets.
“As we plan for the future, this CNG station is part of our larger commitment to sustainability and reducing our city’s carbon footprint. Each CNG van and bus lowers greenhouse gas emissions, reduces noise, and contributes to cleaner air here in Lincoln,” Cosier said.
Hogan-Schnittker said that the new fueling station is just one of several updates that shows StarTran is focused on meeting riders’ needs.
“So far this calendar year, we have provided nearly 150,000 more trips than at this same time last year,” Hogan-Schnittker said. “These milestones are worth celebrating. I believe riders are noticing the continued improvements, and our leadership team continues to work hard to elevate these City services every day.”
Shobe said StarTran’s improvements are especially important to the residents that rely on public transit for their primary form of transportation.
“By providing a more efficient refueling process, we are able to simultaneously expand StarTran service hours and enhance the rider and driver experience,” Shobe said. “That’s because CNG buses offer smooth, quiet rides and lower maintenance costs.”
For more information on routes and schedules, download the StarTran RideLNK app or visit lincoln.ne.gov/transit.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
