SORTA to roll out 14 hybrid buses

The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (Metro) added six new New Flyer hybrid buses, with eight more on the way.

The first six new hybrids will go into service on Dec. 19 and will replace older diesel buses that are past their useful life. Eight more will be put into service by early 2012.

Three of the new hybrids will be on public display on Dec. 16.

The new hybrid buses were purchased with funding from the Ohio Department of Transportation's Clean & Green and Next Generation programs, the Federal Transit Administration's Clean Fuels program, federal earmarks and the City of Cincinnati’s Transit Fund.

The 14 vehicles will more than double Metro’s hybrid fleet. With the addition of the buses next month, Metro will have a total of 27 hybrid buses in service in 2012.

In 2011, Metro’s hybrids reduced greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 823 tons.