Pocatello Accepts Seven Free Buses from Utah Transit Authority
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The following is a news release from the city of Pocatello.
POCATELLO — There will soon be some newer rubber hitting the road for Pocatello Regional Transit (PRT).
Recently, employees from PRT made their way to Salt Lake City to pick up seven 2005 Optima Opus buses from Utah Transit Authority (UTA). The buses were provided to the City of Pocatello at no charge courtesy of a grantee to grantee transfer authorized by the Federal Transit Administration. The vehicles will replace seven older buses in the PRT fleet.
“These buses come at a much needed time in the life cycle of our bus fleet,” said Dave Hunt, Pocatello Regional Transit Director. “These buses have run an average of 203,000 miles compared to our current bus fleet of almost 394,000 miles each. By receiving these buses, we’ll be able to delay new bus purchases by about three to five years.”
Hunt estimates that if the City had to purchase the buses, it would have cost close to $160,000, or 20% of the estimated $800,000 remaining market value.
“UTA took great care of this equipment and provided service manuals and a detailed maintenance history,” said Hunt.
They are also fully equipped to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and will be put into service right away.
“Buses are one component to a very large equation,” Hunt explains. “Not only do you need buses, you need drivers, fuel, maintenance personnel, replacement parts, and other support equipment and services. Even though these buses will alleviate capital expenses they will not impact operating costs to maintain our current level of service.”