Electric buses seem like a great idea. They cause fewer carbon emissions (providing that their electricity is from clean sources), don’t spew diesel smoke and are much more quiet. E-buses cost twice upfront as diesel buses, but are much cheaper to operate; after decades of operation, we can expect the total cost to even out. So, why do I find myself questioning Ulster County’s plan to invest in e-buses?
First of all, electric bus reliability can be iffy. As of a few weeks ago, all of Ulster County Area Transit (UCAT) electric buses were out of commission, reportedly due to a software issue. Reliability has been an issue for many e-buses, largely due to manufacturers still working out the design kinks. Other municipalities have dealt with major defects such as cracking batteries, which derailed grand plans to convert to an electric fleet.
The most important feature for a bus service is reliability. Without riders feeling that they can depend on the bus showing up when it’s scheduled, we are going to have a hard time attracting new riders, no matter how good our buses are for the planet.
Second, the range for e-buses is often not adequate for a full day of travel, especially in the winter when the heat is on. I have heard complaints from UCAT riders that the electric buses have been freezing in the winter, probably to save battery so the bus doesn’t die in the middle of its route.
Cold weather is a bigger issue for buses than for electric cars; since the bus doors are opening frequently, the new cold air is constantly needing to be heated. In addition, lithium ion batteries don’t work as efficiently in the cold; they can lose up to 38% of their range in cold weather.
We should learn from other cities. Chicago had to create an expensive battery charging system in order to ensure that electric buses have enough power to both run the routes and provide heat. Alternatively, UCAT could create a battery exchange system, swapping dying batteries out midday for fresh ones.
Another solution to the charging issue is to create trolley lines with overhead power. Trolleys might work in more densely populated places, but due to the rural and suburban nature of many routes, it’s not going to be the go-to solution for most routes.
---
Yes, we should have a goal to convert all vehicles to battery power. However, we should not go into this blindly. We should recognize that there are pitfalls to electrification, and devote adequate resources to make sure that the transition is successful.
Frankly, if the county decided to hold off on buying more electric buses, I would not hold it against them.
In addition to concerns about bus electrification, I have a few other priorities to consider.
To achieve climate goals at scale, we first and foremost need to get people out of cars. A diesel bus trip only needs to replace about 7 car trips in order to break even in terms of carbon emissions (assumptions: diesel bus gets 6 mpg, average car gets 25 mpg, average car trip holds 1.5 passengers). In order to increase ridership, we need to ensure that the community has frequent and reliable service to places they want to go. To do this, I roughly estimate that we need to increase funding for UCAT by tenfold.
What needs to be done? First off, the routes need to be studied and modified in order to improve efficiency and connectivity, and reduce travel times. This has already been initiated by County Executive Jenn Metzger in an executive order. The bus service for urban routes such as the Blue Route in Kingston should run at least every 15 minutes, and should at minimum run from 6 am to midnight, 7 days per week. At this time, we have poor service especially evenings, weekends and holidays. There are ten holidays per year during which there is no bus service, including days which could be very popular for buses, such as Fourth of July. And there are many other ideas for expansion of current schedules and additions of new routes.
Bus drivers received a raise last year, however the positions have not been well advertised. Service is still being canceled when a driver calls out. We should increase driver and staff pay, and look into creating a system like those used in hospitals, in which a staff member is paid a partial rate in order to be on-call, in case a scheduled driver does not show up.
We also need to hire many more drivers in order to increase service. If we have frequent service, one driver calling out will cause the bus to be late, but at least another bus will show up. In the current system, one driver calling out causes the entire route to be canceled, and riders left stranded.
We need to build many bus shelters. This is currently in the works, as both Ulster County Legislature and Ulster County Transportation Commission have approved funding for bus shelters.
We also must improve street designs around bus stops so that people feel safe using them.
We need basic things like route maps, and schedules on the website and the app which match the actual route.
We need courteous and reliable service for paratransit users.
We need to add more routes connecting Ulster County residents to jobs, parks and neighboring counties.
We can think creatively about ways to increase ridership. For example, encouraging high school students to take UCAT rather than the school bus or parents driving them, and giving commuters tax breaks for using UCAT.
We need to heavily encourage affordable housing and mixed use development in existing walkable and transit-accessible places, as well as creating new walkable and transit-friendly areas.
Kingston is considering ending parking minimums, which is a big step in the right direction. However, without good networks for transit, biking and walking, developers may be forced to use more land for parking than they would otherwise. It often makes financial sense to use valuable land in ways that de-prioritizes cars. In places such as Portland and Europe, employers find it more cost effective to pay their employees to take transit and bike, rather than to take on the costs of onsite parking.
Let’s create a robust transit system, including a well-considered plan to create a low-emissions fleet while improving bus reliability and accessibility for all!
NOTE FOR COMMENTS:
Please sign in before typing your wonderful comments. I have heard from several readers who have lost their comments due to not being signed in. Thank you for reading!
So many important points brought to the table thanks Ella!
It is so good that you are naming all of the aspects of this new policy, given that automobiles at one time, were considered the answer to the pollution and congestion created by horse manure and carriages or "cars". We often rush headlong into innovation and progress, oblivious to the unforeseen consequences. This time, however, haste is warranted!
A robust and highly functional public transit system is the way to go, and I love the idea of workers being paid to bike or take transit to work.
I