Through a change in contractors for busing services at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, all mass transit on campus now runs on the biodiesel blend B20.  This past June, First Transit began operating mass transit services for UTK, and the fleet now includes 14 large transit buses and six shuttle buses.  All are diesel vehicles that are running on biodiesel!

"We wanted to include biofuel use in the system, so it was fortuitous that we were able to hire First Transit," says Mark Hairr, Director of UT Parking and Transit Services.  "We want to foster the use of cleaner fuels here."

The buses receive their biodiesel blend from the local Knoxville terminal where any blend can be mechanically blended into the fuel delivery truck.  The fleet started on B5 and recently transitioned to B20.  Scott Conroy of First Transit says, "It is clear that the stigma that used to be attached to biodiesel is going away.  We are the largest transit service provider to universities in the U.S. and regularly offer biodiesel as a fuel option, and more people are asking for it.  We see it as our responsibility to efficiently offer cleaner energy solutions to our customers."

These buses are expected to cover roughly 475,000 miles and use roughly 100,000 gallons of fuel per year.  Thus, they are an important alternative transportation option for UT students, staff, and faculty.  Hairr also notes, "Ridership is up significantly in the first few months of service, with almost 100,000 more riders using the system as compared to last year.  When you consider that, essentially, the same level of service is being provided, that shows a significant increase in the efficiency of service provided by First Transit, with every mile a bus travels now operated using B20 rather than diesel fuel compared to last year."

These new buses feature USB and power outlets, three bike racks to accomodate more cyclists, and Transloc, an awesome app that allows smartphone users to see within seconds where buses are mid-route.  Conroy says, "Students love this app because they can better plan their routes and better utilize the campus busing system."