After years of wrangling, the Central Arkansas Transit Authority yesterday made a decision to invest in natural gas-powered buses. A variety of government sources will provide $2 million for a rule terminal and almost $7 million for gas-powered buses, touted as less polluting than diesel buses and cheaper to fuel in the current market.

The CATA release:

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The Central Arkansas Transit Authority (CATA) Board of Directors has approved the development of a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fueling station and the purchase of 15 new CNG heavy-duty transit buses.

The approximately $2.1 million contract with Trillium CNG is for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of a CNG fueling station for CATA buses. The station is funded from numerous sources including the CATA municipal and county funding partners and grants from Southwestern Energy, the Arkansas Energy Office, and the Federal Transit Administration.

The CATA Board of Directors approved $6.9 million in federal and local funds for the purchase of 15 new clean-fuel CNG buses from Gillig, LLC.

“This is a great opportunity for CATA to continue to meet the needs of our customers with the fleet they deserve. The transition to CNG reflects our commitment to remain environmentally conscious as we enhance our fleet,” stated Jarod Varner, CATA executive director. “We continue to pursue grant opportunities that strengthen our financial position, leverage limited resources and promote economic benefits to the central Arkansas community.”

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