Spearfish Transit Agency unveils first ever propane paratransit buses in the state

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) - Public transit buses in South Dakota could be running fuels in the future.

Prairie Hills Transit in Spearfish revealed the state’s first-ever propane paratransit buses in a ceremony last week. South Dakota Secretary of Transportation, Joel Jundt, joined the transit company at the ceremony.

The buses were added in an effort to help minimize harmful emissions from impacting the environment.

Prairie Hills Transit received approximately 700 thousand dollars in funds from the Federal Transit Administration and other agencies to bring in the propane buses.

The company currently has two propane buses in its inventory and will be adding four more in the future.

The company’s executive director says she sees a future where more public transit systems in the state switch to propane.

“I think the more information that’s out, the more statistical data, you know, the clean operation. The willingness of the DOTs to help get specs written or agencies to write their own specs,” Prairie Hills Transit Executive Director Barbara Cline said.

The buses are not in operation yet, but Cline is optimistic they will be available for the public to ride in two weeks.

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