Posted by Robert Cronin, a resident of the Menlo Park: The Willows neighborhood, on Jan 21, 2013 at 5:30 pm

This is good news, of course. Better news would be if SamTrans announced more frequent service on the KX line. The current hourly service is pathetic.

Posted by Steve, a resident of the Menlo Park: Felton Gables neighborhood, on Jan 21, 2013 at 5:53 pm

Yes, it is good news! anything that save fuel and reduces smok is good, good, good!!! One never knows with the savings that the KX line will not get more service!

Posted by Jack Hickey, a resident of the Woodside: Emerald Hills neighborhood, on Jan 22, 2013 at 2:31 pm

This looks like a press release! What is the cost of the hybrid buses?

Saving $3 Million over 12 years doesn't look like it will come close to payback.

And forget about the phony cost reduction from the $4.9 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant. Folks, that's taxpayer's dollars! And, Gillig already received a government subsidy from the Federal Transit Administration's Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program.

FYI

Mary Stasiak, the AATA's community relations manager, revealed that a new 40-foot hybrid bus costs a staggering $546,000, which is $245,000 more than a comparable conventional bus. Grants from the Federal Transit Administration's Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program ease the financial burden. Since the hybrids are 30 percent more efficient, half of their extra cost will be offset by fuel savings. Maintenance costs are expected to drop by 30 to 50 percent, because the hybrid's regenerative braking doubles the life of the friction brakes and lowers the stress on suspension components. While it's impossible to assign a dollar value to clean air, the hybrids also provide emission reductions ranging from up to 50 percent for CO2 and NOx to 90 percent for carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and particulate matter.

Read more: Web Link

Posted by Joe, a resident of the Menlo Park: Allied Arts/Stanford Park neighborhood, on Jan 22, 2013 at 2:43 pm

Yes, Mr. Hickey, there is a cost, but there is also value. They're not the same thing.

Posted by Jack Hickey, a resident of the Woodside: Emerald Hills neighborhood, on Jan 22, 2013 at 4:08 pm

There is opportunity cost which one can apply. If the cost to produce that which you value reduces the opportunity to procure something of greater value, that would be a lost opportunity. It is important to understand the total cost if one is to evaluate what other values might accrue from the expenditure. Decisions must be made but not by you or me. We get to decide how to spend what's left over after taxes.