Hall schools' LP-powered buses arriving soon

GAINESVILLE - Within the next two to three weeks Hall County becomes the first school system in Georgia with an LP gas-powered school bus fleet.

That's according to the Hall County School System's Executive Director of Operations Jewel Armour, who is looking forward to the efficiency and the fuel cost savings.

"We're currently in the process of getting our tanks and dispensers installed at our pumping sites,"Armour said. "The first one will be ready at the bus shop, then at East Hall and Chestatee High Schools."

Armour expects the bus shop pumping site to be ready within the next couple of weeks, and the new LP buses could start rolling in by next week.

"They won't be going on line; we want to do a training program with our drivers," said Armour. "The gas provider will do a training session with each driver that's involved and Blue Bird Bus Company will provide training on the buses to make sure the drivers are comfortable with them."

Armour expects the LP buses begin hitting the road and on routes by late April.

"We're looking forward to it. I'm excited about it,"Armour added. "Right now we're paying over $3.50 a gallon for diesel and we anticipate being able to purchase LP gas for $2.00 a gallon, so it's a good savings for us."