Newport-Mesa Unified School District serves the communties in the central area of Orange County. In 2004, Newport-Mesa USD embarked upon a school bus modernization program. With funding assistance provided by the South Coast AQMD and MSRC Clean Transportation Funding, Newport-Mesa USD has acquired 29 low emission compressed natural gas (CNG) school buses. These buses replaced older, higher polluting buses, some of which were 35 years old.
400000.00
Newport-Mesa USD competitively bid the design and construction of the CNG refueling station. Tom Mitchell Engineers, Inc. was awarded the design contract. The station design finally accepted and constructed consists of a dual compressor system with 13 time-fill (i.e., slow-fill) posts with two dispenser hoses per post. "Slow Fill" is conducive to school buses operations as the vehicles can be refueled over night and be ready to resume student transportation the following morning. Slow-fill refueling also allows more fuel to be loaded into the bus fuel tanks, increasing bus range between refuelings.
Allsup Corporation was awarded the construction contract on March 24, 2009. Construction commenced soon after and was completed as of October 14, 2009. Notice of completion was filed on Novermber 17, 2009.
The objective of this project was to provide accessible, convenient CNG refueling for the Newport-Mesa bus fleet. Initially, Newport-Mesa USD refueled their buses at an offsite location; however, this proved to be both logistically difficult as well as costly. Newport-Mesa determined that having CNG refueling located onsite would significantly reduce the time required to refuel buses, bus mileage and traffic congestion, as well as labor and fuel costs.
The station is currently performing daily bus refueling operations for Newport-Mesa's fleet of 29 CNG school buses. To date, only minor maintenance issues have been experienced.
The Grand Opening of the Newport-Mesa CNG refueling Station was held on October 14, 2009. Refueling operations commenced immediately. To date, the station has been operating effectively.