Seven New CNG Buses for KCSOS

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Kern County Superintendent of Schools Larry E. Reider, Maintenance, Operations and Transportation Administrator Chris Hall, school bus drivers Veronica McEvoy and Cynthia Brewster, Assistant Superintendent Tom Valos and Transportation Services Director Paul Linder unveiled seven new CNG buses to the public on June 16.

Seven clean fuel burning school buses were rolled out by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office on June 16th to replace higher polluting diesel buses in its fleet. The buses were placed into service immediately following the rollout at the superintendent’s Transportation Services Center located at 705 S. Union Ave. in Bakersfield.

These new compressed natural gas (CNG) powered buses were put on display for the first time as the buses they replaced were taken out of service, to be crushed and recycled with the metal being used to make other products.

“Our commitment is to replace at least seven buses each year until our student transportation fleet is powered entirely by CNG buses,” said Kern County Superintendent of Schools Larry E. Reider. “Our poor air quality makes far too many children susceptible to asthma and other health issues. This causes many to miss school. And that means they miss out on valuable learning.” Reider expressed appreciation to the Rose Foundation and the local chapter of the Sierra Club whose $340,000 grant paid a significant part of the $1.1 million cost to buy the new buses. He noted school buses always are a significant purchase for any school agency. But CNG buses are more economical to operate than diesel powered. Oil need not be changed as frequently, and CNG is cheaper than diesel fuel.

Seated comfortably behind the wheels of two new CNG buses were KCSOS drivers Cynthia Brewster and Veronica McEvoy. Each has been with the office for about two years and has experienced what it is like driving the old diesels versus the new CNGs.

“CNG is more efficient, quiet and comfortable — everything about it is better,” Brewster said. “Since they are larger than the small diesels being taken out of service, seats can be removed to make room for more wheelchair students, allowing us additional space to maneuver easily.”

“You especially notice it when you have to wait in warm weather traffic,” McEvoy added. “The small diesel buses get hot and engine fumes come in, especially in the front part of the bus. The little ones complain, 'oh, it stinks.' The new CNG buses are not hot at all and there are no fumes. We thank the Rose Foundation, Sierra Club and the Kern County Superintendent of Schools. We are so grateful for this really good idea.”

The new buses bring to 45 the number powered by CNG or more than half of the 95 buses fleet.

“I’ll be the first to tell you, this is a small step toward cleaner air. But it’s an important step which we, as a public agency, must take if we are to shift from dialogue to action,” said Reider.

Reider opened a CNG fueling facility at Union Avenue and Terrace Way, just south of Highway 58, in 2006. It is open to public and private users and can be accessed 24-hours a day.


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