OJAI : Clean-Air Grant to Pay for Trolley
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The Ojai City Council has approved the purchase of a gas-powered trolley with grant money received under a federal clean-air program.
Council members Tuesday accepted the staff recommendation to solicit bids for a new streetcar as early as next month. Under the plan, the new trolley would be converted to run on either compressed natural gas or regular gasoline when a cost-effective pumping system becomes available.
Earlier this year, the city received approval for $200,000 in federal grant funds to be used for the purchase of alternative-fuel vehicles.
But city officials said they would rather spend the money on two gas-powered trolleys and the bi-fuel conversion kits, instead of one, more expensive electric streetcar.
Current technology does not allow for battery-powered electric trolleys that can be heated and air-conditioned, Assistant City Manager Daniel Singer told the council.
A private firm already operates a gas-powered trolley in downtown Ojai.
The city wants to increase the number of trolleys so the route could be extended outside city limits and the wait for a streetcar would be shortened.
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