MOUNT VERNON — Fuel costs for Knox Area Transit have risen nearly 40% compared to this time last year.
For January through May 2021, fuel costs totaled $78,704. For the same period this year, costs are $109,962, with KAT vehicles driving 2,298 fewer miles this year.
KAT Director Martin McAvoy budgeted $468,266 for fuel in 2022.
“I budgeted quite a bit more for fuel because things were going up,” he told the commissioners on June 28. “We are okay right now. We are still watching our miles per gallon so we can keep it up. That will help.”
In contrast, the cost of CNG (compressed natural gas) has remained fairly steady. McAvoy said CNG vehicles get the same MPG as the current KAT vehicles.
The county has been considering converting to CNG.
“CNG conversion would save us quite a bit. All of our vehicles in our fleet now have the set-up in the engine itself for CNG conversion,” McAvoy said. “Even before fuel prices were up, we would have savings with CNG, so we are continuing to look into converting to CNG.
“Right now, we are 18 months to three years out on getting new vehicles,” he added. “Although we've been talking about it, now it's more important. With the environmental benefits and money savings, CNG makes sense.”
McAvoy has not yet heard whether the Ohio Department of Transportation has approved the $8.38 million facilities grant submitted earlier this year. The money will be used to build a new operations center at 503 W. High St. and a maintenance and vehicle storage building at 601 W. Chestnut St.
The county commissioners approved MKC Architects to design the two new buildings. Four other firms bid on the project:
•Withers Design Group, Columbus
•DLZ, Columbus
•Richard Bowen & Associates, Cleveland
•R.E. Warner, Westlake
The commissioners anticipate designs to be completed by November with groundbreaking in early 2023.
