Schuylkill County is anticipating the arrival in September of its first five buses that run on compressed natural gas.

Another four compressed gas buses are lined up for funding.

Schuylkill Transportation System Executive Director David A. Bekisz said the authority is replacing its 12 fixed route buses with compressed gas fueled ones. The compressed natural gas is less expensive than diesel fuel, and is cleaner for the environment.

The county has a CNG station at Highridge Business Park in Cass Township.

The replacements are being made as each of the buses wears out.

The news surfaced Wednesday at a county commissioners work session as Bekisz presented his annual requirements to submit applications to the state Department of Transportation for operating and capital assistance.

The county is the funding grantee, so has to give permission for STS to apply for the grants.

Commissioners adopted a resolution authorizing the filing of the $3,187,575 consolidated capital application for transit related capital improvement projects for fiscal year 2018-19.

The projects include vehicle replacement and upgrades to on board camera systems.

The total breaks down to $582,000 for six shared ride vehicles, $2,500,000 for four compressed natural gas vehicles, and $105,575 to upgrade on board camera systems.

The five CNG buses to arrive in September had been approved and funded last year, Bekisz said.

Of the total amount, $2,550,060 would come from federal dollars, $573,371 from state funds, and a $64,144 local match from the county.

Commissioners also approved advertising a public meeting notice to let people know of meetings to be held at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. April 30 at the STS conference room on the third level of Union Station at 300 S. Centre St., Pottsville.

The public is invited to attend to offer suggestions and comments on the shared ride van and fixed route bus programs before completion of the consolidated operating assistance grant application.

In addition, commissioners approved the filing of STS’ 2018-19 consolidated operating assistance grant application for both fixed route and shared ride programs.

The fixed route program will be funded by $618,000 in federal assistance and $1,656,301 from the state.

The funds, in conjunction with $192,670 other project revenue, will be combined with the county’s local match share of $169,170. The money will allow STS to provide 18,000 hours of bus service with an estimated 200,000 passenger trips from July 1 to June 30, 2019, at a total project cost of $2,610,637.

The shared ride for older adults and people with disabilities programs will be funded with $775,000 for shared ride for older adults and $102,000 for shared ride for people with disabilities. The money will allow STS to provide approximately 70,000 trips from July 1 through June 30, 2019.

The county will provide a $169,170 match.