""We are using sustainability as a tool to reduce long-term costs on all new projects," said Adams. The City has purchased Hybrids, implemented the ZipCar partnership program, purchased bio-diesel fuel, and implemented new technologies to defray the costs of fuel. The City also partners with other government agencies in the region sharing resources to reduce costs."
No, the City of Portland is spending MORE money than it needs to, by buying Hybrids and so on and so forth.
Why can't city employees use our existing public transit system - the vast network of TriMet busses and MAX trains - for necessary city travel?
It comes at no additional cost to the City of Portland and would allow the City to reduce a substantial number of motor vehicles in its fleet - thereby saving a LOT more money. Purchasing hybrid vehicles takes a long time to recoup the cost in saved fuel - and often takes longer than the 100,000 miles that the City drives before it retires a fleet vehicle. (Is there a city policy that hybrid vehicles must be kept in the fleet until 200,000 miles?)
I can only imagine that Sam Adams and the City doesn't like to rely on TriMet's busses because the City is biased against the bus system as an important vehicle for 2/3rds of Portland's transit ridership. Busses aren't sexy to stand in front of for an election year photo op. The city could save a lot of money simply by stopping all new motor vehicle purchases; requiring that all vehicles be the "cheapest" vehicle required (that means that CityFleet should have a lot of Ford Focuses in the fleet) and they should only be purchased for those employees who absolutely, positively, cannot use TriMet busses.
""We are using
""We are using sustainability as a tool to reduce long-term costs on all new projects," said Adams. The City has purchased Hybrids, implemented the ZipCar partnership program, purchased bio-diesel fuel, and implemented new technologies to defray the costs of fuel. The City also partners with other government agencies in the region sharing resources to reduce costs."
No, the City of Portland is spending MORE money than it needs to, by buying Hybrids and so on and so forth.
Why can't city employees use our existing public transit system - the vast network of TriMet busses and MAX trains - for necessary city travel?
It comes at no additional cost to the City of Portland and would allow the City to reduce a substantial number of motor vehicles in its fleet - thereby saving a LOT more money. Purchasing hybrid vehicles takes a long time to recoup the cost in saved fuel - and often takes longer than the 100,000 miles that the City drives before it retires a fleet vehicle. (Is there a city policy that hybrid vehicles must be kept in the fleet until 200,000 miles?)
I can only imagine that Sam Adams and the City doesn't like to rely on TriMet's busses because the City is biased against the bus system as an important vehicle for 2/3rds of Portland's transit ridership. Busses aren't sexy to stand in front of for an election year photo op. The city could save a lot of money simply by stopping all new motor vehicle purchases; requiring that all vehicles be the "cheapest" vehicle required (that means that CityFleet should have a lot of Ford Focuses in the fleet) and they should only be purchased for those employees who absolutely, positively, cannot use TriMet busses.