Santa Fe Trails Transit System
Last Updated: 08/27/2007
Santa Fe Trails Transit System (SFT) is a division of the Public Works Department of the City of Santa Fe, New Mexico. It has operated alternative fuel vehicles in its fleet since 1992. SFT currently operates 35 transit-style buses and one light-duty vehicle (LDV) fueled with compressed natural gas (CNG). SFT also has two LDVs that operate on biodiesel. All the buses are 32 feet long and are equipped with John Deere CNG engines. SFT has a CNG fueling station on site and has recently opened the station to allow public use.
The SFT fleet has traveled more than 5 million miles. "The CNG buses are reliable, have cleaner burning engines, increased oil life, and lower fuel costs than diesel," said James Dillingham, fleet and facilities manager. "We have had just one engine failure that resulted in an engine rebuild." SFT plans to continue using CNG transit buses and to purchase six new CNG transit buses in 2007-2008 to replace some of the older models. SFT is also researching hybrid (electric/diesel) transit buses and hopes to use biodiesel instead of conventional petroleum diesel in the hybrids.
For more information, visit the Santa Fe Trails Web site.
