Metro Bus Gets Grant to Add More Buses

ST. CLOUD -- Some good news for St. Cloud Metro Bus.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation Office of Transit has announced an additional $4-million in funding for new buses.

Metro Bus spokesman Tom Cruikshank says that means they will be able to buy an additional 11 Compressed Natural Gas buses on top of the 10 they've already ordered.

Cruikshank says the news came at a good time because their fleet is scheduled for replacement.  He says it will allow them to retire more buses sooner.

Cruikshank says each new bus will cost approximately $450,000 and Metro Bus is responsible for a 20% funding match on the MnDOT grant.

They hope to have the new CNG buses in service by next summer.