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The Cariboo-Chilcotin School District will receive $1.25 million in funding for the purchase of 11 new diesel school buses as part of a $12.5-million investment by the Province.

“We want to transport our students to and from school in the safest, most comfortable, most modern and efficient way possible,” says Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett. “This investment in upgraded buses is also much better for our environment with cleaner technology and a significant lowering of exhaust emissions.”

Funding for the new buses includes one 48-passenger bus, one 54-passenger bus, seven 72-passenger buses, and two 84-passenger buses.

The Government has invested $12.5 million for 106 new buses across the province. These new buses reduce exhaust particulate emissions by 90 per cent compared to the previous 1994 standard. Clean diesel buses also produce 30 to 60 per cent better mileage than gasoline-fuelled buses and provide longer service.

Approximately 1,200 buses are owned and operated by school districts, and another 600 buses are operated by bus companies under contract. Currently, school districts individually contract to buy buses from manufacturers.

“Student transportation services cost more than $90 million annually,” says Minister of Education Margaret MacDiarmid. “Over the coming months, we will be looking for new ways to provide bus transportation for students that will save money that can be reinvested in classrooms.”

Bulk purchasing and a variety of other cost-saving options are being studied. Some districts like Prince George, Surrey, and Maple Ridge contract out transportation services to private companies and benefit from reduced labour costs. Other school districts provide BC Transit bus passes to students where it makes more sense for them to travel by city bus.

In order to qualify for replacement, a bus needs to be on a regular route to school, and have met or exceeded the following criteria regarding age and kilometers:

• 78-84 Passenger 15 years and 400,000 km
• 24-72 Passenger 12 years and 325,000 km
• Minibus 10 years and 250,000 km

All B.C. public sector organizations are required to publicly report on their emissions levels, on the actions they have taken to reduce these levels, and their plans to minimize emissions.