OMAHA, NE – The Metropolitan Omaha Education Consortium and Student Transportation, Inc. (STI) have collaborated to deploy more than 400 Blue Bird Propane-Powered Vision school buses.

Serving Millard and Omaha Public Schools, the contract is the largest transportation agreement in STI’s history. It is also the largest single order to date of propane autogas buses for Blue Bird, a provider of propane autogas-powered school buses utilizing the ROUSH CleanTech fuel system.

“We are thrilled that STI and Omaha Public Schools made the decision to move to propane autogas, making Omaha a greener city by dramatically reducing the emissions produced in transporting children to school each day,” said Phil Horlock, president and CEO of Blue Bird Corporation. “This order — the single largest in the industry’s history — shows Omaha’s commitment to creating a cleaner and safer city for all of us to enjoy.”

The Blue Bird school buses, equipped with ROUSH CleanTech’s dedicated liquid propane autogas fuel system, reduce carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and total hydrocarbon emissions, and virtually eliminate particulate matter, when compared to conventionally fueled school buses. The buses meet stringent Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board certification standards, according to the companies.

“Domestically produced, clean propane autogas is a perfect fit for school fleets,” said Denis Gallagher, chairman and CEO of STI, one of the largest providers of school bus transportation services in North America. “At STI, we’re showing that there is a better way to transport children to school with a lower cost of operation.”

According to Omaha Public Schools’ website, the school district aims to be “one of the most energy and resource efficient school districts in the country.” This conversion to propane autogas-powered Blue Bird school buses moves them closer to their goal.