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Three natural gas-powered buses join Muskegon County's fleet
The push by Muskegon County's bus system to convert to natural gas-fueled vehicles has reached its full-sized buses for the first time.
Three new heavy-duty compressed natural gas buses began serving routes in the Muskegon Area Transit System earlier this month, replacing older, diesel-powered buses. Seasonal trolleys and small buses in the MATS fleet have been using compressed natural gas for years.
According to DTE Energy, which started replacing its service vans with natural gas vehicles in 2010, the benefits include reduced costs for fuel and maintenance, less wear and tear on vehicles, and less pollution.
“MATS has been using natural gas in its seasonal trolley vehicles and small buses for nearly 10 years now, but these will be the first heavy-duty CNG buses in our fleet,” said Transit Manager Jim Koens. “Compressed natural gas burns cleanly, is produced domestically and is more cost-effective than diesel fuel at this time.”
The bus stops here: Muskegon-area transit rolls out new system
Goodbye, flag-down bus system. Hello, bus stops.
Muskegon County's public transportation system is changing the way it serves customers, effective Saturday, by providing more exact locations for boarding and de-boarding the buses on the fixed routes of the Muskegon Area Transit System.
About 400 bus-stop locations, marked by posts with a blue-and-white circular MATS sign, in the county are set to eliminate some of the guess work for residents and establish more traditional stop-to-stop runs for buses. That system no longer will be available.
Current Muskegon downtown site would be best for new bus terminal
A consulting firm hired by Muskegon County is recommending that a proposed new downtown Muskegon bus terminal be constructed at the terminal's current site
The Corradino Group of Michigan's Ted Stone told Muskegon County commissioners this week that the firm “couldn't find a different site that would work any better” than the current location at 351 Morris.
Muskegon County bus system proposing expanded routes as ridership grows
Muskegon County's timing in proposing an expansion of its public transportation system is a reflection of the times.
With gas prices up and the economy down, a unique partnership is being investigated by federal and county officials that might lead to expansion of the county's bus system into unserved areas by more efficiently using funds already in place.
Catch the bus at our new, marked stop locations beginning October 1
You don’t have time to wonder where and when to catch the bus. Now, you can rely on our new stop-to-stop service with our 400 bus stop locations, county-wide. No more waving the bus down. No more guessing.