Nopetro will build and operate a compressed natural gas fueling station for the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (LYNX).
Nopetro will also provide improvements to a maintenance facility and convert the public bus fleet to CNG.
Nopetro said its public-private partnership (P3) with LYNX is the first step in the construction of a turnkey CNG fueling station and the generation of revenue from third-party customers. In addition to fueling LYNX’s bus fleet, Nopetro’s station would also be available to serve private commercial fleets and the public at large.
“Once again, LYNX is at the forefront of the nationwide movement to build sustainable public transportation systems,” said John M. Lewis Jr., CEO of LYNX. “Switching to CNG makes sense both financially and environmentally for Central Florida transit, and Nopetro’s collaboration made an easy choice even easier.”
As part of the contract, Nopetro will build and operate a fueling station located at the intersection of John Young Parkway and LYNX Lane, and make certain renovations and improvements to the adjacent maintenance facility to meet CNG-compliance standards. Under the terms of the public-private partnership, switching from diesel to CNG is expected to provide the agency with annual positive returns on its investment approximately three years from the scheduled completion, in the second half of 2015.
LYNX will purchase and/or lease an initial 35 CNG buses and is projected to have more than 150 CNG buses within the next five years. The 150 CNG buses would represent half of its current pool of 300 diesel vehicles, resulting in a more fuel-diversified and environmentally friendly fleet.
“This partnership will positively impact the 30 million riders who utilize LYNX public transportation services each year, as they travel throughout Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties,” said Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, chair of the LYNX Board of Directors. “Converting our buses to run on CNG is part of our continuing efforts to improve operations through innovative technologies.”
