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Bring Propane School Buses to Your Community

DRIVE THE FUTURE

1. PROPANE SCHOOL BUSES 101.

2. SAFETY & PROPANE BUSES.

3. SAVINGS & YOUR STUDENT.

4. TALKING TO YOUR SCHOOL.

5. WHERE TO LEARN MORE.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DRIVE THE FUTURE — RESOURCE TOOLKIT

Think about how much time the student in your life spends on a school bus. While many students take the bus every weekday, we don’t often talk about the quality of their buses, or how buses affect learning — or, our communities.

If you’re a parent, guardian, educator, or are somehow involved in a student’s day-to-day, you can make a positive impact on their future by advocating for better school transportation.

YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CREATE CHANGE

DRIVE THE FUTURE — RESOURCE TOOLKIT

School buses powered by clean, American propane aren’t new to the scene. In fact, they’ve been relied on by some U.S. districts for decades. In recent years, manufacturers have dedicated more resources to expanding propane school bus technology, and school districts are quickly choosing propane over diesel. Why?

It’s Cleaner. Much, much cleaner. Picture the height of a younger student compared to the height of a bus tailpipe. That student typically faces a cloud of diesel smoke, inhaling harmful diesel particulate matter. The particulate matter in diesel exhaust is an identified carcinogen (or, capable of causing cancer) that also aggravates asthma and other breathing issues.

It Saves Money. Money that can go right back into your student’s classroom. Modern diesel buses can drain a transportation department’s budget due to the extra components required to keep them operating cleanly, on top of generally higher fuel costs. Propane is already a low-emissions fuel, and doesn’t require schools to pay for these extra components. Historically, propane also costs less at the pump than diesel, even as fuel prices fluctuate.

It’s Quieter. With propane, loud, smelly school buses are a thing of the past. Propane engines operate noticeably quieter than diesel, which has a significant impact on students’ safety. In a quieter bus, the driver can concentrate — on the road ahead, and on their passengers. Imagine how much faster a driver can respond to a bullying situation if they can hear it happening. On top of improving safety, propane buses provide a calm start to the school day to help students pay better attention in the classroom.

PROPANE SCHOOL BUSES 101

PETER CROSSAN Fleet & Compliance Manager, Boston Public Schools Department of Transportation

“The buses are so quiet. When our wheelchair buses are picking up, outside the bus ambient noise level is about 90 decibels for a diesel bus. It’s so noisy that you can’t hear yourself think. Propane buses really reduce the

stress level in a chaotic situation.”

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NORTHSIDE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT SAVES

EVERY YEAR ON FUEL ALONE.

$1.3 MILLION

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Propane buses have been trusted for their safety since the 1980’s. Like conventionally fueled buses, they meet rigorous U.S. FMVSS and Canadian CMVSS motor vehicle safety standards. The fuel also does not ignite easily — 940 degrees Fahrenheit, compared to 500 degrees for gasoline. Propane is an approved fuel listed in the 1990 Clean Air Act; it’s non-poisonous to humans and non-toxic to the environment. It poses no harm to groundwater, surface water, or soil.

Because of their noticeably quieter operation compared with diesel, propane buses create a safe environment for passengers and their driver. On a quieter bus, the driver can be more alert to hazards outside the bus — like emergency vehicles — and their passengers’ needs.

“It’s just so quiet. The kids aren’t so noisy; they don’t have to talk so loud. And for me, now I can hear what’s on the outside of the bus, too.”

CAROL PATCHEN Driver, St. Francis Independent School District 15

SAFETY & PROPANE BUSES

HEAR THE DIFFERENCE FOR YOURSELFCAN YOU HEAR WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT OF A DIESEL BUS? TAKE THE AUDIO QUIZ.

QUIETERSCHOOLBUSES.COM

JERRY BARTEE Assistant Superintendent, Omaha Public Schools

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When a district switches from diesel to propane, it’s in a better position to afford more instructors, classroom supplies, or extracurricular activities. According to Jerry Bartee, assistant superintendent of Omaha Public Schools, with the more than $200,000 a year saved with their propane buses, the district would be able to hire up to five teachers a year to work with students. At a time when school district budgets are shrinking, propane school buses could help ensure a brighter future for students. What could your school do with extra money for the classroom?

SAVINGS & YOUR STUDENT

“...$200,000...that’s four to five classroom teachers a year that we can hire.”

DRIVE THE FUTURE — RESOURCE TOOLKIT

School districts typically adopt propane school buses in the process of replacing older diesel buses. Chances are, your local district is planning to phase out their older diesel buses within a couple of years. As they look at their choices, would you rather they stick with diesel — or switch to a cleaner option that supports students for years to come?

You can play an important role in this decision by making your voice heard. Even if your district isn’t looking to change buses soon, your voice will make a difference when the time comes. Talking to your school district could be as easy as emailing or writing a letter to your district transportation office.

In your message, keep it short and simply list what’s important to you. Some thought-starters include:

¬ What kind of buses does our school district currently use?

¬ Are there plans in the near future to replace our older buses?

¬ Are propane school buses in consideration for the future?

¬ The importance of quieter operation for students’ safety.

¬ The impact of better savings in the transportation department to affect the classroom.

¬ How reduced harmful emissions could help improve your community.

On the next page, you’ll find a templated letter to personalize and send to your district transportation department as a letter or an email. If you’re a member of your school’s parent-teacher association, you could also use this letter to start the conversation at your next meeting.

TALKING TO YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT

To:

As a member of this community, I am interested in the potential benefits of

propane school buses for our district. Compared with diesel, these buses

operate cleaner, which I believe is important for our community and its

students. I’ve also learned that the savings from propane school buses can

help our school afford more resources that affect students every day — like

more teachers, or extracurricular activities.

When it comes time to replace our district’s buses, please consider adopting

propane school buses to help create a brighter future for students. Thank you

for your time.

From:

School Officials: For more information about propane autogas school buses for your district,

visit propaneschoolbuses.com.

DRIVE THE FUTURE — RESOURCE TOOLKIT

To get more informed about how propane school buses can help students, go to BetterOurBuses.com. There, you can watch videos about schools that have switched to propane, get school bus safety tips, and even see how many propane buses are currently operating in each state.

WHERE TO LEARN MORE

The Propane Education & Research Council was authorized by the U.S. Congress with the passage of Public Law 104-284, the Propane Education and Research Act (PERA), signed into law on October 11, 1996. The mission of the Propane Education & Research Council is to promote the safe, efficient use of odorized propane gas as a preferred energy source.

© 2018 by the Propane Education & Research Council

C Printed on recycled paper

1140 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 1075 / Washington, DC 20036 P 202-452-8975 / F 202-452-9054 / propanecouncil.org