The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Eco-friendly transit fleet receives Clean Fuels Ohio award
Laketran, with the addition of propane vehicles to its fleet, has been designated as an Ohio Green Fleet by Clean Fuels Ohio’s statewide program.
Clean Fuels Ohio is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing environmental pollution, strengthening Ohio’s economy, and enhancing energy security by promoting and encouraging the use of cleaner, domestic fuels and efficient vehicles.
The Columbus-based organization was founded in 2002.
The Ohio Green Fleets program, which recognizes the efficiency and environmental performance of fleets, acknowledges Laketran’s commitment to being environmentally responsibility by improving air quality and reducing Ohio’s dependence on imported petroleum.
Laketran earned the designation as a Three-Star Ohio Green Fleet, according to a news release.
Vehicle fleets are evaluated based on their reliance on petroleum fuels and policies the agency has implemented to reduce vehicle emissions. Designation as a Three-Star Ohio Green Fleet demonstrates that concerted steps have been taken toward improving a fleet’s overall efficiency and
emissions profile.
Fleets achieving a Three Star certification have been able to apply technologies to significant portions of their vehicles, attaining thorough reductions in emissions and petroleum fuel use.
Laketran General Manager and CEO Ben Capelle said it’s an honor to be recognized by Ohio Green Fleets.
“Laketran is in the process of converting our 88 bus Dial-a-Ride fleet to propane and will have 27 vehicles operating on cleanerburning propane autogas
by early 2019 — transitioning 31 percent of the fleet’s fuel to propane.”
While dependent on federal funding, Laketran’s goal is to transition the entire fleet in five to seven years, the release stated.
Capelle also credits the agency’s policies, such as its “No Idling” policy, as a reason it achieved the Green Fleets ranking.
“Every minute you idle, you’re burning unnecessary fuel, wasting money and polluting the air,” Capelle added. “In peak service, we have 72 Dial-a-Ride buses operating throughout Lake County and every minute we’re not idling, we save $1.84 (in fuel). Just by reducing our idling time by
one minute per bus, saves us $470 annually.”
Dial-a-Ride, Laketran’s door-to-door, shared-ride service primarily used by seniors and people with disabilities, provides 300,000 trips annually and has seen a 14 percent increase in ridership over the last three years.
Dial-a-Ride is provided throughout Lake County and to limited medical facilities in Cuyahoga County, and includes special programs such as Veterans Medical Transportation and Medicaid Non-Emergency Transportation.
Laketran’s motor coach Park-n-Ride fleet that primarily connects commuters between Lake County and
downtown Cleveland also contributed to earning the designation, the agency confirmed, in addition to the steps Laketran took to secure funding for a future in electric bus technology for its Local Route service.
“Our Park-n-Ride fleet is running on the most current emissions reductions systems, our Dial-a-Ride fleet is converting to propane and Laketran was just awarded federal funding to bring the first battery-operated electric buses to Ohio,” said Laketran Board President Brian Falkowski. “If we can find a way to operate more efficiently and environmentally friendly, we’re going to responsibly do just that.”