By Steve Taylor, Rio Grande Guardian
Elizabeth Suarez, transit director for the City of McAllen, speaks at a news conference at the McAllen Metro Bus Terminal on Monday.
McALLEN, Nov. 22 – The City of McAllen has been awarded a $1.9 million federal grant to retrofit three of its McAllen Metro transit buses so that they run on electricity rather than diesel.
The City is providing a local match for the $2.1 million pilot project. The aim is to reduce energy consumption and fuel costs by 80 percent, as well as extend the life of the buses by an additional six years.
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar and McAllen Mayor Richard Cortez made the announcement at the McAllen bus terminal on Monday morning. Cuellar said only 46 cities across the nation had received Tigger III grants for the retrofit program and that McAllen was one of only four cities in Texas to benefit.
Also speaking at the news conference was Elizabeth Suarez, transit director for the City of McAllen. Suarez said the retrofitting would begin in early in 2012 and be complete by early 2013. She said the pilot project is a joint partnership with McAllen Economic Development Corporation, South Texas College and Olev Technologies, Inc., of North Reading, Mass. Olev stands for On-Line Electronic Vehicle. It will involve four en-route charging stations constructed along the route where the buses can be charged with electricity.
“It is about improving the environment. We will have a 60 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, which means less pollution. It will save us money. We will save about 80 percent of our diesel bill because we will not be using diesel,” Suarez said.
McAllen Metro began operations in 1997 and in its first year an average of ten thousand trips were made on its buses each month. Now, the average is well over 40,000 trips monthly. McAllen Metro’s slogan is ‘Ride Green, Ride Metro.’
Suarez said the pilot project involves partnering with the plan with the pilot project is to convert three buses that are used on the same route. Indeed, she said it would be the highest used route, which is Route 4, which circulates all of the hospitals as well as the Plaza Mall.
“We are looking at tailoring this to make an impact on our transit system. These buses are taking people to work at the hospitals, at the hotels, at the shopping centers, and our passengers that, for instance, that go to dialysis daily or that have family at the hospital or who are going out to do their shopping. We are really looking to see all of the opportunities that transit has on our community,” Suarez said.
Currently, McAllen Metro has 15 buses, of which eight are operating at peak time. Suarez said the three buses will be retrofitted and that the conversion will last for the life of each bus. “This is a really good use of federal dollars because the buses we are converting have already met half of their useful life. So here, we are asking for a chunk of change, we retrofit these buses, we extend their live, the chassis will live another six years. So, we are getting 18 years for a 12 year bus,” she said.
Asked how much it would cost to convert McAllen Metro’s entire fleet of buses, Suarez said about $14 million.
In her interview with the Guardian, Suarez also spoke about the economic impact of having a pilot project in McAllen, not just about the environmental benefits.
“The project is really promoting innovation in the industry. Typically, when projects like this get piloted you have a huge draw from the industry, people coming down to visit the projects, spending nights in our hotels, eating in our restaurants,” Suarez said.
“With this project, we are hoping to be able to look at how transit really does impact economies and why it is important. Transit officials really do believe that for every dollar you invest in transit you draw at least $25 in economic impact. We are hoping to show our elected officials, both locally and federally, that an investment in transit means a long term improvement for our economy.”
Suarez was asked what else she would like to tell the wider Valley public, through the Guardian. She said making the public aware of what public transportation does for a community.
“Public transit gives people a low cost alternative. It is good for the environment. It makes an economic impact. If you think, a dollar invested in public transit goes so much further than a dollar invested in public highways. There comes a point where you can no longer continue to build streets. If you were to imagine a roadway with 40 people in 40 cars and the congestion that causes, compare it to those 40 people on one bus. What is the difference? It makes sense,” Suarez said,
Suarez also said public transit makes less of an impact on a taxpayer’s pocket.
“It is better on your pocket. You are going to go from $50 for gas a week to ten dollars in bus fare for a pass a week. That is a $40 saving on your pocket. You are not having to pay for car insurance, maintenance. And, on the roadway it is less congestion, less headaches and less pollution to our environment.”
Suarez said that for government officials the challenge is to take into account all of these issues. “It is no longer about making a decision that makes economic sense, but how does it impact quality of life in our community,” she said.
The Guardian concluded its interview with Suarez by asking if other Valley communities could benefit from the advances McAllen was making in public transit and whether the entire region could have an integrated bus service to allow greater mobility for those unable to afford their own vehicles or the cost of filling their vehicles with gas.
“As an optimist in this industry I do believe that the answer is yes. How we get there is a hard decision because it requires a hefty investment that local folks have to make. We know that McAllen is committed to this. They have seen it. They have shown it. The number of local dollars they invest in us has grown significantly over the last ten years. We have worked really hard to show that in our city we are going to do the best that we can with the money that we get. We hope we attract other cities to go into the same venture we have,” Suarez said.