PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) -
TriMet is rolling out a new fleet of environmentally friendly buses. Officials and their community partners gathered Wednesday at the Portland Community College Cascade Campus for a ribbon-cutting event.
Federal grants funds were used to purchase four low-emission, high-efficiency hybrid buses. The cleaner, quieter buses will be more fuel-efficient and require less maintenance than standard buses.
They will operate on Line 72-Killingsworth/82nd Avenue, the second-busiest line in the bus network. It also serves two PCC campuses.
However, not everyone is thrilled about the purchase. According to the president of the Bus Driver's Union, a prior model of the same brand of bus has the highest incidence of left-turn pedestrian accidents.
TriMet called that accusation "absolutely false." Officials said they always evaluate the safety of vehicles before they are put into service.
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