July 7, 2023. The award was one of just 130 projects funded by President Biden’s infrastructure bill to put better, cleaner buses in communities across America.
The funds, which include a contribution by the City of $499,022, or approximately $100,000 per bus, will be used to replace five buses that have exceeded their useful life. The new GILLIG compressed natural gas (CNG) buses will increase service efficiency, reduce maintenance expenses, provide low-emission and reliable technology, and have improved engines that reduce NOx and PM emissions by 90 percent more than the old models.
Transit Manager Claudia San Miguel said, “We are extremely grateful to the Department of Transportation for seeing the value in our project and working to improve public transportation across America.”
The proven design of the GILLIG CNG bus recorded the highest reliability and the best fuel economy of any CNG bus tested at the Altoona Bus Research and Testing Center. GILLIG buses provide a maintenance-friendly design incorporating an integrated fuel-management panel and easily serviceable components. The GILLIG bus uses the Cummins L9N engine and provides near-zero emissions for the cleanest CNG bus in the industry.
The new GILLIG CNG bus with the Cummins L9N CNG engine will reduce harmful emissions. The proposed replacement buses have improved CNG engines that reduce NOx and particulate matter (PM) emissions by 90 percent over early models 15 years ago. The Cummins L9N engine meets the 0.02 g/bhp-hr optional near-zero NOx emission standard, which is 90 percent less NOx than the current standard.