SPRING VALLEY, N.Y. — Chestnut Ridge Transportation has been awarded a grant from the EPA to replace and/or upgrade the school bus fleets it operates for East Ramapo and Ramapo central school districts.

The grant was awarded in conjunction with the National School Transportation Association's (NSTA) "Go Yellow, Go Green" national campaign that encourages cleaner operation of school buses through the reduction of school bus idling and the implementation of the latest clean diesel technologies. The grant will be managed by Robin Leeds, former NSTA industry specialist.

With the help of the grant, Chestnut Ridge Transportation, which is a member of The Trans Group LLC, will retrofit 40 school buses with EPA-verified diesel oxidation catalysts (DOCs) and direct-fired heaters, and equip an additional 75 school buses that already have DOCs with direct-fired heaters.

In total, the upgraded fleets will help provide an environment that is significantly cleaner by reducing engine exhaust and eliminating idling time while buses heat up, officials said. 

"By installing fuel-operated heaters in these buses, we will eliminate the need to preheat the vehicles through engine idling and reduce harmful carbon emissions," said Timothy Flood, executive vice president of The Trans Group.  "We believe in investing in the future of the communities we serve and are pleased that we can do our part in helping to make our environment a better place for the next generation." 

Headed by John Corr, The Trans Group family of companies employs over 1,300 individuals and operates over 1,000 school and public transit buses in lower New York state.