In conjunction with the arrival of the new buses, RIOC has extended bus service to the Octagon, the island’s new 500-unit rental building, and to Coler-Goldwater Hospital, while still maintaining tram schedules. The new fleet will now primarily consist of the four new Orion VII buses, although the organization will still keep and maintain its older buses on the island in case there is a need.
“The buses are green in the environmental sense, but they will be painted in the distinctive Roosevelt Island red,” said Herbert Berman, president of RIOC. “This effort continues our commitment to offer top services to island residents.”
The addition of the four new buses to the Roosevelt Island fleet came about through a partnership of RIOC, the New York Stage Energy Research and Development Authority, and the New York Power Authority.
“NYSERDA is pleased to contribute more than $1 million dollars toward the incremental cost of these four Orion VII hybrid electric buses,” said Peter R. Smith, president of NYSERDA. “The environmental benefits associated with displacing thousands of tons of harmful emissions over the lifecycle of these buses is significant here on Roosevelt Island, but so too are the economic development benefits from this project. The buses are manufactured in New York by BAE Industries. This project deploys clean air technology while strengthening the New York economy.”
“The New York Power Authority is proud to have been a funding partner, helping to secure these environmentally friendly hybrid electric buses for the residents of Roosevelt Island,” said Timothy S. Carey, president and CEO of NYPA. “We are working daily to realize Governor George Pataki’s vision to end our reliance on foreign oil while we create a transportation sector transformed by electric drive, bio-fueled and other clean-fuel vehicle technologies.”
The total cost of the four new buses was $2.2 million, RIOC covered roughly $900,000 of the cost, and NYSERDA provided an additional $1.1 million in funds through its Clean Fuel Bus Program, Round V. The final $200,000 required for this large purchase was funded by NYPA.
NYPA also served as a technical advisor to the project, providing staff to travel with RIOC personnel to the plant where the buses are manufactured. During that trip, RIOC personnel had the opportunity to discuss specifications, inspect the completed vehicles and evaluate the purchase.
RIOC’s new hybrid electric buses will significantly reduce emissions through the use of ultra-low sulfur fuel. The vehicles operate using a 600-volt board charging system with a overhead battery pack system that provides the buses with enough power to reach highway speeds, although this is not necessary on the island.
With cleaner emissions than current EPA standards, the hybrid buses have greatly reduced pollution: 90 percent less particulate matter, 40 percent less oxides of nitrogen, and 30 percent fewer greenhouse gases. The buses use less fuel improving fuel economy by 25 percent to 35 percent.
About New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is a public benefit corporation created in 1975 by the New York State Legislature. NYSERDA administers the New York Energy $mart program, which is designed to support certain public benefit programs during the transition to a more competitive electric market.
About New York Power Authority
The New York Power Authority is the nation’s largest state-owned electric utility, with 17 generating plants in various parts of the state and than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. It is a leader in promoting energy-efficiency, new energy technologies and electric transportation initiatives.
About Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation
The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation of the State of New York, more commonly referred to as RIOC, was created by the New York State Legislature in 1984. Its mandate is to manage, develop and operate the 147-acre Roosevelt Island, located in New York’s East River in the borough of Manhattan.