Newest Gadsden buses smaller, cheaper

By Andy Powell
Times Staff Writer

Published: Saturday, December 13, 2008 at 6:01 a.m.

Gadsden Times | Eric T. Wright

A bus pulls away from the station at an introduction of three buses painted like trolleys Friday at the Transfer Station at Fourth and Broad streets in downtown Gadsden.

Newer, smaller and cheaper.

Those are three of the characteristics stressed by Gadsden officials Friday as three new city buses were introduced.

The new buses, which are painted to look like trolleys like the existing city buses, will go into service Monday by the city’s fixed-route bus service called the Gadsden Trolley Co.

They will replace some of the six buses the city purchased in 2000 and 2002 that are now used on three routes.

Mayor Sherman Guyton said the new buses are smaller, cost less and will be less expensive to operate.

They have seating capacity for 12 and standing room for 10 and are wheelchair accessible.

Guyton said the new buses cost $126,000 each. The larger buses cost $154,000 each.

There will be reduced operating costs because of better fuel efficiency, and Guyton said maintenance can be done locally rather than in Birmingham.

The city received federal funding to cover 80 percent of the cost of the new buses.

Meinrad Tabengwa, director of transportation, said the older buses had become more expensive to maintain. Maintenance costs almost doubled between 2002 and 2008, he said.

He said the older buses will be phased out in the next few years.

Guyton said the city will keep the older buses for use during special events and tours.

The smaller buses are more maneuverable, and Tabengwa said that will be helpful when the city does a study to look at revamping the current stops and routes. A round trip takes about an hour. He hopes that can be reduced.

Ridership increased by 6 percent from 2007 to 2008, spiking when gas prices went up this year.

The cost of a ride is 50 cents for most; 25 cents for senior citizens, disabled people and those on Medicare.

Guyton noted the vehicles use diesel fuel and can use fuel from the city’s biodiesel program that recycles cooking oil into biodiesel fuel.