New contract brings 65 propane buses to Minnesota district
Under the five-year, $4 million contract with St. Paul Public Schools, Student Transportation of America will provide new propane-powered vehicles and a refurbished facility. The contract award also marks the expansion of the company's operations in Minnesota.

Under a new contract with St. Paul Public Schools, Student Transportation of America will provide new propane-powered vehicles. Pictured is one of the company's propane buses in Nebraska.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Student Transportation of America Inc. (STA) has been awarded a new five-year contract with St. Paul Public Schools.
The school bus contractor, a subsidiary of Student Transportation Inc. (STI), is currently hiring drivers for open positions.
The $4 million annual contract, to begin next month, will feature 65 new, propane-powered vehicles and a refurbished facility in St. Paul. The contract award also marks the expansion of the company's operations in Minnesota, where it currently operates more than 100 vehicles for East Carver County Schools in Chaska.
"The Twin Cities area is a hotbed for innovation and progressive thinking, so our company values and strategy in using alternative fuels and technology should create an exciting partnership with the community," STI CEO Denis Gallagher said. "We have been in Minnesota for almost 10 years now and saw an opportunity to expand across the southern part of the state to St. Paul, which we thought would welcome some new ideas."
Gallagher added that the company is creating more than 75 new jobs in the community for drivers, dispatchers and vehicle technicians.
STA's new vehicles will feature on-board cameras, GPS and Child Check-Mate systems for added security.
The company also expects to debut its mobile app SafeStop during this school year. The app allows parents to securely track the location of their child's school bus along its route to and from school every day. The service also includes various information notices and alerts sent to its members.
STA plans to hold an open house at the facility in early August to showcase the new vehicles and to introduce members of the community to the STA team.
Other recent news on Student Transportation Inc.:
More Alternative Fuels

Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Extend Clean School Bus Program Through 2031
The proposed legislation would renew federal support for cleaner school buses as districts navigate funding uncertainty, rising fuel and infrastructure costs, and fleet replacement needs.
Read More →
Alt-Fuel Moves: Electric Bus Rollouts, Bidirectional Charging & Propane Growth
See which fleets are adding electric and propane school buses as districts and operators invest in charging infrastructure, bidirectional technology, and alternative-fuel expansion.
Read More →
Nobody Told Diesel Prices They Were Supposed to Come Down
With diesel prices surging, school bus fleets have new reason to stress-test fuel costs, consider diversification, and calculate what each route really costs to operate.
Read More →
Why Gasoline School Buses Are Making a Comeback
Gasoline is gaining ground in full-size school buses. See how today’s options stack up against diesel on cost, maintenance, emissions, performance, and more.
Read More →
EPA Opens $180M DERA Funding Round for Diesel Upgrades
The 2026 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act program seeks applications from eligible organizations to accelerate the retirement of legacy diesel vehicles.
Read More →
The Secret Life of an Electric School Bus Battery
Batteries change throughout years of daily routes, but degradation doesn’t necessarily mean the end. Here’s what operators should know about performance, safety, and second life.
Read More →
CALSTART and Forth Combine to Form Catalyst Mobility
The new name represents a renewed vision for the nonprofit focused on advancing clean, equitable, and affordable transportation solutions that move people and goods.
Read More →
Alt-Fuel Moves: New Buses, Charging Hubs & Real-World EV Testing
Propane and electric school bus deployments continue to grow as districts add new vehicles, expand charging infrastructure, and gather more real-world operating data.
Read More →
Fewer Electric School Bus Models Reshape the U.S. Market
WRI’s latest buyer’s guide points to a consolidating electric school bus market, but fewer options may reflect a maturing industry rather than fewer meaningful choices for school bus operators.
Read More →
The Fuel Budget You Can Actually Predict: How Propane Autogas Keeps Money in the Classroom
Learn how propane autogas helps school districts manage fuel costs with predictable pricing, lower maintenance, and reduced emissions from former transportation director Joel Stutheit.
Read More →
