The state Department of Environmental Protection has awarded nine grants, including $174,000 to Allegheny Transportation Services of Etna, to replace old diesel school buses for newer, cleaner diesel buses.
DEP’s Driving PA Forward program awarded grants totaling $2.4 million statewide the grants to busing and trash collection companies throughout the state to take 62 older diesel vehicles off the road to help improve air quality.
Allegheny Transportation Services serves the Riverview School District, East Allegheny, Woodland Hills, Pittsburgh Public Schools and North Allegheny.
The projects are expected to lessen pollution by preventing the emission of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, fine particulate matter and hydrocarbon, as well as helping to reduce carbon dioxide, according to the DEP.
Other awards in the region include Pennsylvania Coach Lines of Elizabeth, $215,250, to replace 10 older diesel school buses with 10 new cleaner diesel ones, and Vogel Disposal Service of Mars, $262,600, to replace four older diesel trash collection trucks with four new, compressed natural gas-powered trash trucks.
“We are thrilled and honored to get the grant,” said Lee Ann Kline, vice president of operations and finance for Allegheny Transportation Service, which is a medium- sized bus company with a fleet of 205 vehicles.
“In our industry, it is not easy to replace buses,” Kline said.
The grant has two immediate benefits, she said. “It will provide cleaner air and safer buses for our children and help us as a company to get $174,000 for new buses. And that’s a big deal, especially in this economic climate.”
The grant money will pay 25% of the cost for nine large, 72-passenger school buses that are 10 years and older, Kline said. Each bus will cost around $85,000, she said. The company must demolish the old buses that they will replace.
Three of the new buses will go to Riverview and other districts that are served by the old buses, Kline said.
Vehicles generate 47% of nitrogen oxides in the air statewide, which contributes to ground-level ozone, affecting children, the elderly, residents with lung diseases such as asthma and emphysema, and those who work or are active outdoors, according to the DEP.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health has found that asthma-related emergency room visits increase when air quality is very poor.
Mary Ann Thomas is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Mary at 724-226-4691, mthomas@triblive.com or via Twitter .
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April 12, 2021 at 10:45AM
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Bus company serving Riverview School District among those getting state grants to retire diesel buses - TribLIVE
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