In Chester County, the traditional hum of gasoline engines is set to be replaced by the quieter, cleaner hiss of propane, as the Department of Community Transit initiates the switch of Chesco Connect buses from gasoline to propane power. This switch, as Chester County CEO David Byerman mentioned, is a strategic move towards actualizing the county's commitment to a more sustainable and cost-efficient transportation system, a cornerstone of the Chester County Climate Action Plan approved back in late 2021, as mentioned on the county's website.
The new buses promise a range of benefits, from lower operating costs to a significant cut in emissions. As stated by ROUSH CleanTech's executive vice president, Todd Mouw, these propane vehicles are tailored to reduce environmental pollutants such as sulfur oxide, nitrogen oxide, and carbon dioxide. "This deployment marks a meaningful step for Chester County Department of Community Transit in adopting cleaner, more sustainable transportation," Mouw told Chesco.org. The propane buses are not just an environmentally conscious choice but, also bring economic gain with notable first-year fuel and maintenance savings estimated at about $20,000 per vehicle, based on a 2024 study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
Operational benefits are also on the horizon with Gene Suski, Director of Chester County Department of Community Transit, anticipating "major cost advantages." “Expenses on fuel, fluids, and filters could be reduced by up to 50% compared to gas-powered vehicles, and our maintenance and downtime costs will drop as well. This is an exciting step into the future of transportation,” Suski explained. Such cost reductions are critical for the program which, as per their annual report, provided more than 141,000 rides to county residents in the 2024/2025 fiscal year. That's an average of 556 rides per day across nearly 1.8 million service miles, according to the County of Chester.
Representing a leap toward the future of transportation, the county has already rolled out seven new propane buses, setting the stage for another nine which are expected to join the fleet by February 2026. Whether it's the prospect of cleaner air or the promise of reduced taxpayer dollars sprinkled across the commute-scape, Chester County's Chesco Connect is leading by example to showcase how public transit can remain reliable while embracing sustainable innovation.
