Ozark Regional Transit (ORT) has received four new buses to add to its ever-growing fleet, but these are unique. These buses run on compressed natural gas (CNG) and as such, they burn cleaner which is better for the environment and they’ll last longer than a typical gasoline-fueled engine.
Funding for the new buses was provided in part by the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District and the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission.
Each bus has a seating capacity for up to 19 passengers without wheelchairs or 13 passengers and two wheelchairs, plus standing room.
These welcomed additions will serve to ease the demands on the existing fleet with regards to road use and with scheduling routine and preventative maintenance.
“With the recent and substantial growth of our system in 2014, our maintenance crews have done an outstanding job keeping all our buses safe and on the road, but they’ve had to work several weekends to make that happen,” said Joel Gardner, executive director of ORT. “These additions will relieve that burden immediately, as well as providing for a much longer service life of each vehicle.”
The CNG buses come in conjunction with the recently renovated Kum & Go station at Old Missouri (Hwy 265) and Robinson Ave. (Hwy 412), to become Northwest Arkansas’ first CNG fueling station.
