BELLINGHAM — Residents of Bellingham will not see hybrid buses replacing older vehicles in the next two years since the Whatcom Transportation Authority says the fuel-efficient buses already in the fleet have equipment problems and that they will not order more.
The Bellingham Herald reported the WTA board is expected to vote May 21 on vehicle purchases for 2015 and 2016. They have earmarked enough money to purchase seven diesel-electric hybrids. The seven new buses would replace models from 1997 and 2004.
WTA officials say an apparent defect in the current hybrid buses has caused them to break since hitting the rode in 2013.
Eight of WTA’s 57 vehicles are hybrids.
The total contract for the new buses is $3.68 million. A federal grant would cover 80 percent of the cost.
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