DART: Buy the natural gas buses

by Michael Davis of Dallas Progress

Right now, there is a big debate at DART regarding the choice between purchasing compressed natural gas (CNG) buses or buses powered by diesel fuel. To me, while there may be a cost difference in buying CNG buses it's still a no-brainer.

I can't believe that in this day and time we as a region are considering purchasing buses that run off of diesel fuel. Diesel fuel is foreign oil. So-called "clean diesel" is still diesel, and therefore is still foreign oil. Natural gas is an American resource.

The life-cycle for this proposed bus fleet is said to be twelve years. Who wants to still be running diesel buses in Dallas in the year 2020?

Throughout our nation, we have been beholden to foreign oil interests and when the price goes up we all feel the pain. Automakers and other industries are being forced to retool and become more fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible. Why wouldn't DART follow the lead of the City of Dallas as well as other area municipal transit organizations and buy CNG buses?

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Scott Doyle, says:

I know nothing of CNG efficiency versus diesel - please enlighten (I'm at work and will use that as my excuse not to google it myself). Surely it's cleaner, but I imagine this is a money thing...b/c this is Dallas.

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12 months ago
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Clay213, says:

The real argument against diesel isn't it's birthright. Diesel can be made out of things other than foreign petroleum.

The problem with diesel is it's particulate emissions.

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11 months, 4 weeks ago
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Chris Kidd, says:

Not to mention in the cost longrun, CNG is cheaper to produce and is more plentiful than the products to make diesel, not to mention the emissions produced by CNG is cleaner and less harmful.

Mike, thanks for putting up a topic on this. Keep the pressure on Mayor Slick..er..Tom!!