Los Angeles County MTA retires last diesel bus; CNG, hybrids, electrics take over

It has taken nearly two decades for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA MTA) to replace its entire fleet of diesel buses with coaches that operate on alternative-fuel technologies, but on Wednesday, the MTA completed the transition when it retired its final diesel bus. Officially, LA’s MTA is now the nation’s only major transit agency with an entire fleet of buses equipped with alternative-fuel technologies.

Diesel buses began operating in Los Angeles County back in 1940. The last diesel coach to be retired – a 40-foot long New Flyer purchased in 1998 – logged 383,180 miles before being relieved of its duties. In 1995, LA’s MTA took delivery of its first natural gas coach. Currently LA’s MTA operates 2,221 CNG-fueled buses, six hybrid coaches and one electric bus. Transit officials estimate that the elimination of diesel-fueled coaches has reduced particulates by 80 percent and slashed CO2 emissions by nearly 300,000 pounds per day. Hat tip to Roy!

[Source: Los Angeles Times]