Of the district’s 11 transit-style buses, seven run on CNG. The district does not operate its own fueling station, however, because land in Santa Monica is at a premium, as is funding, so building a station is not realistic. So the buses are fueled at the Big Blue Bus transit yard: No land or money for dedicated fueling stations. District buses also fuel up at a city municipal garage nearby.
“The (Southern California Air Quality Management District) provides $20,000 grants, but a fueling station is $350,000,” he explained.
Because CNG buses can’t travel particularly long distances, Abramson said he and his bus drivers know exactly where all the CNG stations are in the area. Athletic trips can entail 80 or more roundtrip miles, depending on the destination. So drivers may need to fuel up at a CNG station at Los Angeles International Airport to the south or even at a local public service station.
The use of school bus contractors is limited to field trips or “one-offs” for a special needs or homeless student. “If I have to hire a contractor I will,” Abramson said.
“Overall, we are very cost efficient.”
