Short Range Transit Plan 2008-2013 - Omnitrans

IBI GROUP
SHORT RANGE TRANSIT PLAN REPORT
OMNITRANS COMPREHENSIVE OPERATIONAL ASSESSMENT
& SHORT RANGE TRANSIT PLAN
lately, these accomplishments indicate that the agency is capable, after a period of belt-tightening, of
following the recommendations in this SRTP to again grow ridership. The following items by no means
describe each and every accomplishment and event that has occurred in the past five years, but focus on
some of the highlights.
East Valley and West Valley LCNG Stations
Omnitrans began operation of both its new, odorless liquefied compressed natural gas (LCNG) fueling
stations at the San Bernardino and Montclair operations facilities by June 2002. The stations fuel the
agency's alternatively fueled fleet of 168 buses. The East Valley station houses two 30,000 gallon
double-walled storage tanks, and the West Valley station houses a 20,000 gallon double-walled storage
tank. The tanks store liquefied natural gas (LNG) at -250 degrees Fahrenheit, using vacuum pressure
and insulation to keep the fuel cold. As needed, the liquid is pumped out of the tanks and passed through
a vaporizer, which changes the fuel from a liquid to compressed gas state for transfer to the bus fuel
tanks. In order to keep up with approximately 18,000 gallons of fuel demand daily, and to ensure that
tanks are "topped off," LNG is delivered to the facility via tanker truck.
Environmental Review of Omnitrans Facilities
In March 2004, Komex H2O Science completed a study to evaluate any potential environmental and
health impacts of Omnitrans' three fueling facilities, located at 1700 W. Fifth Street, 234 South I Street in
San Bernardino, and 4748 Arrow Hwy in Montclair. The study was mandated by legislation (SB1927)
authored by State Senator Nell Soto, and its purpose was to determine whether or not Omnitrans’ fueling
facilities pose a health threat to surrounding neighborhoods. It was found that the risk from Omnitrans
does not exceed risk management guidelines set out by the United States Environmental Protection
Agency and the California Environmental Protection Agency.
Hybrid Vehicles
In November 2002, Omnitrans put the nation’s first electric/gasoline hybrid transit bus into service. Since
then, two additional hybrid buses have become operational. The buses utilize the latest in alternative fuel
technology to drastically cut smog-producing emissions.
The Omnitrans hybrid buses are the first in the United States to feature the ISE Research ThunderVolt
TB40-H drive system. According to a study conducted by the California Air Resources Board, this system
provides a significant reduction in smog-producing emissions, over and above both diesel and
comparable alternatively-fueled vehicles. The final vehicle has been awarded the Air Resources Board’s
first (and only) non-diesel hybrid certification for use as an alternative fuel system in California’s transit
vehicles. Simply replacing one diesel bus with another that utilizes the Siemens-ISE-Ford ThunderVolt
hybrid system (as Omnitrans’ does) has the same effect on emissions as removing more than 200 cars
per year from the road.
The Board’s certification opens the door to the widespread use of this electric/gasoline hybrid system,
which combines unleaded gasoline with electricity instead of diesel or compressed natural gas (CNG).
This combination has proven to create the lowest emission system of any type for a 40-foot vehicle. In
terms of nitrous oxides (NOx) emissions, for example, Omnitrans’ electric/gasoline hybrid bus releases 4
grams per mile, compared to 30 grams per mile for a diesel bus and 14.34 grams for a CNG bus.
Similarly, when measuring particulate matter (PM) emissions, Omnitrans’ electric/gasoline hybrid bus
releases NO measurable particulate matter, in comparison to nearly 0.25 grams per mile of emissions
from a diesel bus, and 0.03 grams for a CNG bus.
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