Federal Transit Administration awards nearly $9 million for biodiesel buses

In Washington, the Federal Transit Administration awarded the City of Longview, Wash. $1.56 million to purchase new low-floor biodiesel buses to replace older buses that have exceeded their useful life. The new buses will be operated by RiverCities Transit and will improve access, mobility and transit service for residents of Kelso and Longview. The City of New Orleans’ public transit authority was awarded $7.24 million The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) to purchase biodiesel buses to replace buses that RTA purchased after Hurricane Katrina destroyed the authority’s bus fleet in 2005. Those buses have reached the end of their useful life, and new buses will allow RTA to enhance safety, improve service and reduce vehicle breakdowns.