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With Autogas,
W it h A utoga s,

T r a ns it A ge ncies S av e W h e r e It Co un t s
Transit Agencies Save Where It Counts

s public entities, transit agencies have a big
job: connect people, jobs and communities
via safe modes of transportation. With finite,
Agovernment-funded budgets, these organiza-
tions must be judicious in how they maximize fixed op-
erational dollars while also doing mission-critical work.
For over 15 years, we’ve seen a growing and important
trend in the transit industry: adopting propane buses
as a valuable way to save operational funds.
With the long game in mind, many transit
agencies make upfront investments using capital funds ● As one of Michigan’s largest public transpor-
to purchase low-cost, low-emission propane vehicles tation fleets, The Rapid provides rides to more than 6
and install flexible infrastructure. This ultimately allows million community members annually. Seventy-five per-
them to save on fixed operating funds down the road. cent of its paratransit fleet runs on propane autogas,
So, every dollar saved via propane autogas means they providing services to seniors and persons with disabili-
can continue to provide more services using their limit- ties who cannot ride fixed-route services.
ed government funding. ● After adopting propane autogas in 2016,
Many people don’t know that paratransit is a Charlevoix County Transit quickly transitioned the ma-
specialized form of public transportation. It’s designed jority of its paratransit fleet to propane to help provide
to serve individuals who are unable to use traditional curb-to-curb services to its rural community.
fixed-route systems due to disabilities or mobility lim- ● Flint MTA has operated propane buses for 15
itations. Unlike standard public transportation methods years, saving at least $70,000 per vehicle in lifecycle
that operate on fixed schedules and routes, paratransit fuel costs. As an early adopter, the agency once op-
services are typically door-to-door, on-demand and erated the nation’s largest propane fleet in the public
flexible, offering personalized transportation within a transit industry.
defined service area. Propane buses continue to be a We continue to advocate for common sense
vital part of many transit agencies’ paratransit depart- solutions and based on the above results, we are confi-
ments due their affordability, flexibility and reliability.
dent that propane fits the bill.■
In my home state of Michigan, more than 500
transit and paratransit buses are operating at over
20 agencies, including Allegan County Transportation Source: Todd Mouw is executive vice president
of sales and marketing of ROUSH CleanTech, an
(Allegan), BATA (Traverse City), Charlevoix County Tran- industry leader of advanced clean vehicle tech-
sit (Boyne City), Clinton Transit (St. Johns), Flint Mass nology. Mouw has more than two decades of
experience in the automotive and high-tech in-
Transportation Authority (Flint), Hope Network Trans- dustries. As former president of the NTEA Green
portation (Grand Rapids), Suburban Mobility Authority Truck Association, Mouw helped set standards in
for Regional Transportation (Detroit) and The Rapid the green trucking industry. To learn more, visit
ROUSHcleantech.com.
(Grand Rapids). Here are some of their stories:

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