The Ohio State University Campus Area Bus Service (CABS) was recently awarded $679,485 from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). CABS will use the funds, along with its own money, to replace four diesel-powered transit buses with four, new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses. The total cost is estimated at just more than $2 million and supports Ohio State’s sustainability goals by lowering the overall carbon footprint with alternative vehicles.
“We are thrilled to receive this funding from the Ohio EPA and will use it to invest in the future of alternative transportation,” said Beth Snoke, director of Transportation and Traffic Management for Ohio State. “These new CNG buses will reduce emissions and improve cost effectiveness.”
Ohio State’s sustainability goals include a milestone to reduce the carbon footprint of the university fleet, per thousand miles traveled, by 25% by 2025. Once the new buses are purchased, Ohio State will have 29 CNG buses as part of its total fleet of 47 buses.
Each year, the Ohio EPA awards $15 million in grant funding to reduce diesel emissions in the state. This money comes from the Volkswagen Mitigation Trust Fund. This is the second time that Ohio State’s transportation team has received funding from the grant program.