Seattle Goes On Hybrid Bus Shopping Spree

"The nation's biggest fleet of hybrid buses is about to triple.

King County Metro Transit announced Wednesday that it will order up to 500 hybrid buses in the next five years, adding those to its 237 hybrids already on the street.

The diesel-electric hybrids, meant to reduce global warming, will be purchased mainly with federal grants, combined with a local sales-tax increase approved by voters last fall. The ballot measure, known as "Transit Now," will fund more frequent bus service throughout the county."

"Most transit agencies have not leapt into the hybrid market as eagerly as King County.
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Portland's Tri-Met, for instance, with two hybrid buses, reports fuel savings of 20 percent. "We're waiting for the price of hybrids to come down," said spokeswoman Mary Fetsch. "