First Transit to get new buses, advertising
NORWICH – An opportunity to generate some revenue for Chenango County presented itself this month as First Transit’s Jeff Thornton suggested soliciting companies to advertise on the new buses that will be purchased with federal stimulus funds.
Chenango County will apply for about $300,000 in federal stimulus to buy up to two buses, 27 radios and other technological equipment for its public transportation system. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds were made available to the New York State Department of Transportation for infrastructure, “shovel ready” projects. The buses and equipment will become county property.
“The advertising would be based on our specifications, whatever we decide on. It would be an income-sharing opportunity with the county,” Thornton said. Thornton presented his idea to members of the Public Works Committee last week.
First Transit has already received inquiries from businesses interested in the advertising opportunity, he said.
Committee member James Bays, D-Smyrna, suggested using the advertising to promote local government-sponsored activities, such as public health clinics.
A motion was made and seconded to have the director explore how other counties cost-share with their public transit systems for advertising as well as the varieties of signs used.
In other committee news, an audit of a bus fire that occurred last September on state Rt. 80 in Sherburne found no specific determination of its cause due to the extensive damage of the bus.
First Transit Chenango contracted with an independent consulting firm to conduct the post investigation. Because the fire engulfed the bus in three to five minutes, its cause could not be determined specifically, said Thornton.
There were no injuries as a result of the incident. The bus operator and an aid evacuated two, wheelchair bound passengers to safety.
The audit found all the maintenance work and inspections were current.
“Nothing was found to be anyone’s fault,” he said. “First Transit has a very good safety record and we hope to keep it that way.”
First Transit will be replacing its entire fleet of buses this summer with 23 new buses.
Thornton said he planned to further pursue government grants in order to purchase a hybrid bus that would be used for a park-n-ride system along state Rt. 12 from Greene to Sherburne.
“Every county should be looking at where they want to be in 5, 10 or 15 years from now, to reduce emmissions,” he said. “My goal is to take the county in this direction and be the first “green’ transit system in the country.”
Thornton suggested using natural gas as a possible fuel source.
First Transit, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, has 135,000 employs and is the largest public transit company in the country.
Chenango County will apply for about $300,000 in federal stimulus to buy up to two buses, 27 radios and other technological equipment for its public transportation system. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds were made available to the New York State Department of Transportation for infrastructure, “shovel ready” projects. The buses and equipment will become county property.
“The advertising would be based on our specifications, whatever we decide on. It would be an income-sharing opportunity with the county,” Thornton said. Thornton presented his idea to members of the Public Works Committee last week.
First Transit has already received inquiries from businesses interested in the advertising opportunity, he said.
Committee member James Bays, D-Smyrna, suggested using the advertising to promote local government-sponsored activities, such as public health clinics.
A motion was made and seconded to have the director explore how other counties cost-share with their public transit systems for advertising as well as the varieties of signs used.
In other committee news, an audit of a bus fire that occurred last September on state Rt. 80 in Sherburne found no specific determination of its cause due to the extensive damage of the bus.
First Transit Chenango contracted with an independent consulting firm to conduct the post investigation. Because the fire engulfed the bus in three to five minutes, its cause could not be determined specifically, said Thornton.
There were no injuries as a result of the incident. The bus operator and an aid evacuated two, wheelchair bound passengers to safety.
The audit found all the maintenance work and inspections were current.
“Nothing was found to be anyone’s fault,” he said. “First Transit has a very good safety record and we hope to keep it that way.”
First Transit will be replacing its entire fleet of buses this summer with 23 new buses.
Thornton said he planned to further pursue government grants in order to purchase a hybrid bus that would be used for a park-n-ride system along state Rt. 12 from Greene to Sherburne.
“Every county should be looking at where they want to be in 5, 10 or 15 years from now, to reduce emmissions,” he said. “My goal is to take the county in this direction and be the first “green’ transit system in the country.”
Thornton suggested using natural gas as a possible fuel source.
First Transit, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, has 135,000 employs and is the largest public transit company in the country.
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