School District 73 will receive $842,532 in funding for the purchase of eight new school buses as part of a $14 million investment by the provincial government.
“It’s great to see more investment in cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicles that are not only safer for the environment, but for students as well,” said Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Terry Lake.
The government has invested $14 million for 125 new buses across the province.
These new clean diesel buses reduce exhaust particulate emissions by 90 per cent compared to the previous 1994 standard.
The buses also obtain 30 to 60 per cent better mileage than gasoline-fuelled buses, consequently providing longer service.
Currently there are approximately 1,200 buses owned and operated by school districts, and another 600 buses operated by bus companies under contract.
Districts receive buses with wheelchair lifts where required.
In order to qualify for replacement, a bus needs to be on a regular route to school, and have met or exceeded the following criteria regarding age and kilometrage: 78-84 passengers, 15 years or 400,000 km; 24-72 passengers, 12 years or 325,000 km; and minibus, 10 years or 250,000 km.
All B.C. public sector organizations are required to publicly report on their emissions levels, on the actions they have taken to reduce these levels, and their plans to minimize emissions. School districts do not pay carbon offsets on school bus emissions.
