PSTA is preparing to purchase replacement vehicles for thirty five 12 year-old 40' diesel buses aging out of service.  We all know how often we see these huge buses nearly empty around our county and now seems like a great time to identify under performing routes and find the most reliable smaller vehicles on the market to purchase and use on these routes.  All efforts should be made by the Board to  protect the long term financial sustainability of the entire operation of PSTA by purchasing the  types of vehicles that actually meet the demand of the each particular route in terms of ridership.

With ridership down nearly 10% in 2016 from 2015 reducing the size of buses on certain routes to 30' and smaller and thus the expense is obviously prudent management.  Certainly any thoughts of experimentation with costly new untested technology such as electric nearly million dollar buses is better borne by the private sector bus companies and not by taxpayer dollars of hardworking citizens while this technology is evolving and uncertain. 

In conclusion, on the core routes with high ridership please replace the old 40' buses with new efficient 40' diesels as recommended by CEO Brad Miller to the Board, and purchase the smaller buses on the other routes with less ridership in this bus replacement purchase that is upcoming and as a matter of future policy until all but the core routes, roughly 7 out of 40 in the network, are fitted with the appropriate smaller size vehicle to meet the demand for service.