Miami-Dade County receives top Government Green Fleet Award

Miami-Dade County was named one of the recipients of the Government Green Fleet Award for 2020 by 100 Best Fleets^TM. The Government Green Fleet Award, which is open to all Federal, State and Local Government Fleets in North America, evaluates nominees based on the following categories: Fleet composition, fuel and emissions, policy and planning, fleet utilization, education, executive and employee involvement, and supporting programs. 

“Such an accomplishment is indicative of the County-wide initiatives and the County employees who work so diligently to fulfill them,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. “The County has been embracing clean air initiatives and has acted in many capacities to reduce dependence on foreign oil and to use its fleet management resources wisely during the past nine years. The Government Green Fleet Award is an important recognition that tells us we’re moving in the right direction.”

With support of the Board of County Commissioners, and thanks to a collaboration between the Office of Resiliency, The Internal Services Department (ISD), Solid Waste Management (SWM), and the Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW), Miami-Dade County ranked #23 in the 2020 Green Fleet Award.

The Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) received its first Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) bus in January of 2018. Today, Miami-Dade Transit riders can enjoy a more comfortable and quieter ride onboard one of the County’s 420 CNG Metrobuses. DTPW is working toward adding another 140 CNG buses, which would bring the total number of CNG vehicles to 560, approximately three quarters of the entire Metrobus fleet.

“Our new CNG vehicles are helping reduce the County’s carbon footprint while achieving significant savings on fuel cost,” said DTPW director Alice N. Bravo, P.E. “Also, with these new, quieter, and sleek CNG buses, we are modernizing our Metrobus fleet and improving mobility for our residents and visitors. We are honored to be part of this award for Miami-Dade County.”

Also, by putting in service new CNG buses, the County is receiving Renewal Fuels Standard Credit through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) providing the County additional fuel cost savings for its Metrobus fleet.

Additionally, the Board of County Commissioners approved the purchase of 33 new battery-electric buses and charging systems for DTPW in October 2019.

Every zero-emission bus can eliminate 1,690 tons of carbon dioxide over its 12-year lifespan. This is equivalent to taking 27 cars off the road. In addition, electric buses travel about 17.48 miles per diesel gallon equivalent, while CNG buses travel 4.51 miles per diesel gallon equivalent. By using less fuel while traveling the same distance, or even greater distances than diesel fueled or CNG buses, fleets using zero emission buses can reduce their overall fuel costs annually.

Visit miamidade.gov/transit for more information and follow DTPW on social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay in-the-know for departmental updates.

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