DART's Going Green Project Summary

2009 - 2010

Partnering with the University of Delaware to purchase and operate two fuel cell powered buses

56 solar lit bus shelters

9 solar powered and lit bus stops with a rider signaling device especially to signal the bus at night

DART's entire statewide fleet of over 400 buses now uses low sulfur fuel

28 hybrid electric buses are to be part of DART's bus fleet
22 are now operational in DART's bus fleet

Bottle/cans recycling at all DART facilities

Stationary paper recycling at DART offices

Yard waste recycling partnership with DNREC at DART's Mid County Facility

Ceiling light motion sensors in DART's Administration Offices

Plans underway to add solar panels to 5 DART facilities that will save about $95,000 in power costs annually

DART's current 230 fixed route bus fleet includes 118 buses that are only 5 years old or less. The average age of DART's over 200 cutaway buses, used for paratransit-demand response service, is only 3 years old!

DART Provides Riders with a GREENER and NEWER Bus Fleet Resulting in More Reliability, Reduced Maintenance and Fuel Costs, and Less Harmful Exhaust Emissions; New FTA Grant to Increase DART's Hybrid Bus Fleet

Providing our riders with newer, more reliable, and more environmental friendly buses is a number one priority with DART First State. Over the past several years DART has been investing in buses that use low sulfur diesel fuel to meet current EPA emission guidelines and reduce harmful oxides of nitrogen and particular matter emissions. DART's entire statewide fleet of over 400 buses now uses the low sulfur fuel.

To further reduce emissions and fuel costs, DART in the coming months will be going GREENER with 28 new electric hybrid buses. Six of these new hybrid buses are from a just announced FTA $3.12 million award to Delaware from the Clean Fuels Grant Program. The hybrid buses operate in its electric mode at speeds up to 25 mph. The diesel engine will then provide power solely or in combination with the electric motor as needed.

It is estimated that the electric hybrid buses can increase fuel economy by as much as 60%, reduce particulates, hydrocarbon and carbon emissions by up to 90%, as well as releasing 60% fewer oxides of nitrogen than older diesel vehicles. The hybrid electric technology on DART buses consists of a highly efficient diesel engine, running on super low-sulphur fuel, in combination with an Allison electric drive transmission system. Due to the smaller diesel motor and the use of an electric motor, hybrid buses are quieter than standard transit vehicles. The additional weight of the battery pack and additional cooling unit provides a more comfortable ride.

DART also recognizes that our riders deserve a newer bus fleet with not only better seating and temperature control but also with fewer breakdowns. DART's bus fleet includes 118 fixed route buses that are only 5 years old or less. The average age of DART's over 200 cutaway buses, used for paratransit-demand response service, is only 3 years!

DART First State Garners Solar Panel Grant to Continue its Program of Saving Energy and Going Greener

The Delaware Transit Corporation - DART First State (DTC) is continuing to get greener by saving even more energy resources. DTC has been awarded a $1.5 million grant to retrofit DTC offices and facilities with solar panels that will generate electric cost savings and reduce fossil fuel energy needs. The grant is from the Federal Transit Administration under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and Transit Investment for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) Program. This grant contributes to DTC's commitment to saving energy, operating greener, and using renewable energy to better serve our riders and our environment.

The solar panels to be installed are comprised of photovoltaic cells with ultra-thin layers of silicone. When sunlight strikes the surface of the cell, an electrical field is created resulting in a flow of electricity. Once installed, solar energy is captured by the photovoltaic modules. It is then converted from direct current (DC) power to alternating current (AC) power, and finally used to power lighting, computers, air conditioning, and other electric loads in DTC's buildings.

The environmental benefits of integrating solar energy within DTC facilities are:

• Annual reduction of approximately 367,000 pounds in carbon dioxide (CO2)
• Annual removing of approximately 31 automobiles from our highways
• Annual equivalent of 1,236 acres of trees

The $1.5 million investment in solar energy will return dividends based on reduction in annual buildings usage of kilowatt hours of purchased electricity. The return on the investment of the reduction in energy consumption is estimated to be approximately $91,222 per year with a full payback on the system in 15 years. The DTC facilities identified as possible locations include:

• DTC Wilmington Administration Building, 119 Lower Beech Street
• Wilmington Operations Center, 1 South Monroe Street
• Wilmington Paratransit Maintenance Facility, 600 West 2nd Street
• Dover Administration and Maintenance Facility, 900 Public Safety Blvd
• Georgetown Operations Center, South Bedford St & Rt 113

The installation of the solar panels is currently in the project development and scoping phase. This project would be one of Delaware's first implementations of solar energy for state facilities. DTC will join a select few transit agencies across the country using solar energy to power transit facilities.

DART First State Invests in Solar Powered Bus Shelters and Bus Stops to Better Serve Riders

DART First State's (DART) bus shelters and stops continue to get brighter and greener thanks to solar-powered lighting. Several DART bus shelters and bus stops are equipped with a solar-powered lighting system. DART is committed to saving energy, operating greener, and using renewable energy. To better serve our riders, DART is committed to installing many more solar-powered bus shelters and bus stops in the future.

DART installs its solar powered bus shelters where the shelter may lie outside the municipal electric power grid, and because the connection and electric usage costs are prohibitive. Unlit shelters discourage riders from using DART in evening hours because of safety concerns, visibility, and difficulties reading timetable information. Solar-powered bus shelters are thus attractive to both the public and DART riders.

DART currently has 56 solar lit shelters out of its 268 shelters statewide. In both a solar lit bus stop and solar lit shelter the photovoltaic array on the roof or atop the bus stop pole collects and stores the sun's energy during the day and operates an LED light in the shelter and at the bus stop at night by using a portion of the stored battery energy.

DART has installed 9 solar-powered bus stops in northern New Castle County along Foulk Road, Philadelphia Pike, Old Forge Road, U.S. 40, Kirkwood Highway, and Rivers End Drive. Offering security down-lighting, schedule illumination and a rider-signaling device, the solar-powered light brings an increased feeling of safety and security to the rider. Another benefit is it allows bus operators to see customers at night, which reduces accidental bus pass-bys.

These solar powered rider amenities are all a part of DART's continuing efforts to go greener and protect our environment while cutting operating costs and maintaining a safe system for riders.