Props to LAUSD for ongoing efforts to green its fleet of school buses, which, it's just been announced, are being bolstered by a grant to its transportation-services branch from the South Coast Air Quality Management District that will be used for 40 compressed natural-gas (CNG) buses.

That brings the district's total green fleet to 173 buses, reportedly the largest of its kind in the state. Impressive!

More impressive still is that later this year, according to a district press release, the AQMD expects to award LAUSD an additional $9.1 million to purchase 60 more such buses as well as CNG fueling infrastructure.

With each CNG bus valued at $185,000, the grant funding allows LAUSD to receive a cost savings of $138,000 per bus.

"We owe it to our children and our community to provide a healthy school environment to and from home," Superintendent David Brewer said. "These CNG buses are investments that safeguard our students from breathing toxic diesel exhaust.”

The district's board of education in 2003 adopted the Healthy Breathing Initiative, which included a commitment to only accept bids to purchase or to contract buses fueled by alternative fuels, or green diesel school buses that meet strict emission standards.

Here comes a canned quote for your reading pleasure:
"As we change out our old bus fleet, all new buses must help improve our environment and assure that our children and bus drivers would not be harmed by dangerous pollutants,” trustee Julie Korenstein said. “Air quality and its impact on the health of children should be a growing concern for all of us.”

Another:
“LAUSD has the oldest school bus fleet among major urban school districts and we appreciate our partnership with AQMD who continue to help us with the financial challenges of school bus replacement,” said Transportation Director Enrique Boull’t. “Together, our goal is to provide new energy efficient, lower-emission and safe school buses to our children.”

And finally:
“LAUSD has been proactive in acquiring clean-fueled, natural gas school buses to replace its aging diesel models,” said William A. Burke, Ed.D., chairman of the AQMD Governing Board. “This will benefit the thousands of children riding those buses on a daily basis as well as air quality across our region.”

Lastly, some background info, courtesy of the district's communication staff:
CNG buses run on an alternative fuel for gasoline (petrol) or diesel fuels. Natural, clear and non-corrosive, these vehicles have lower smog-forming emissions than their diesel counterparts. All new school buses come equipped with improved safety features including 3-point lap and pelvic seat restraints, fire suppression systems, additional emergency exit capability, anti-lock braking systems, automatic parking brakes, flame-retardant seats, raised, fully padded seatbacks and methane leak detectors.