http://hanfordsentinel.com/news/local/hanford-may-pursue-electric-trolley-bus/article_be776732-6ddb-5aab-9110-3ee1ee24953f.html Hanford may pursue electric trolley, bus [20151230] Mike Eiman
[images http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/hanfordsentinel.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/bf/4bfc1aef-8170-5826-a33f-58638f2dd007/56831ceea6996.image.jpg Freddie the Fire Truck Originally built in the 1950s and used as a fully functional Studebaker fire truck within the city, Freddie the Fire Truck was donated to the Hanford Conference and Visitor Agency in the early 1990s. http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/hanfordsentinel.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/cf/0cf3e32e-4db8-5e9b-94ff-49ce28d9cf32/56831cef2abd1.image.jpg?resize=620%2C389 Hanford Christmas parade 2014 Freddie the Fire Truck carries the Hanford City Council down Douty Street during last year's Christmas Parade in Hanford. ] Vehicle would be used to facilitate commerce, large groups Hanford’s iconic Freddie the Fire Truck could soon be getting some assistance in the form of an eco-friendly electric trolley. City Manager Darrel Pyle said he recently met with Angie Dow, executive director for Kings Area Rural Transit (KART) to discuss possible grant funding for such a vehicle, which could be used for transporting visitors and promoting local commerce. Pyle brought up the idea to the City Council this month during a discussion of the Hanford Chamber of Commerce’s contract with the city, which includes the operation of Freddie. The city council will consider whether it wishes to pursue an electric trolley or bus during its goal-setting session in late January. The vehicle would either be operated by the chamber or through a partnership with KART. “It’s yet to be explored,” Pyle said. Dow said the exact arrangement will depend on the council’s goals and how the city wishes to use the vehicle. She said KART may be able to help the city secure funding for the vehicle, but operating the vehicle could be complicated. “As public transit, we have to open it up to the public,” Dow said. That would preclude operating the electric vehicle specifically for promotional purposes or transporting groups of visitors upon request. Dow said KART could possibly operate the vehicle and coordinate with the chamber as an ancillary use. Dow said there is ample grant funding available for new technology aimed at reducing pollution, with the state’s cap-and-trade program offering the lion’s share. “There’s $65 million this year and they’re saying it’s going to double next year,” Dow said. Dow said the compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles currently used by KART cost a little under $500,000. A comparable electrical vehicle costs about $1 million. KART is currently working with other agencies on a $20 million grant that would pay for two electric buses in Kings County. If that funding is approved, Dow said, the agency will proceed with another grant application for a solar project to offset the electricity costs associated with the vehicles. Mike Bertaina, CEO of the Hanford Chamber of Commerce, said Hanford will likely see a spike in visitors in the near future. Based on a number of new hotels proposed for construction, the chamber’s renewed relationship with Amtrak and the city’s continued growth, a bus or trolley capable of transporting large groups could soon prove useful. Bertaina said the Freddie the Fire Truck can only transport 11 passengers at a time. It’s ideal for short drives around downtown and occasional trips to the Hanford Mall and other areas, but lacks modern features like power brakes and power steering, which makes it unsuitable for distance travel. “Freddie is old,” he said. “It’s an old fire truck. It wasn’t made for long trips.” A trolley or bus could make regular trips around the city, as well as taking visitors to outlying areas. Bertaina said such a vehicle would have been useful when the Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture was still in operation near 10th and Jersey avenues. Bertaina said Freddie is serviced every 3,000 miles and is in good shape. Although replacement parts can be hard to find, Bertaina said he has no intention of ever taking the iconic truck out of service. “As far as I’m concerned Freddie is going to last forever,” Bertaina said. While the trolley or bus wouldn’t be intended to replace Freddie, Pyle said he hopes that the trolley would have some of the same “charm” that has made the vintage fire truck an icon of Hanford. Prior to the dissolution of the Hanford Conference and Visitor Agency in early 2013, the agency’s then-director, Dave Jones, proposed a fire truck-themed bus complete with red paint, ladders, sirens and flashing lights. Dow said the city would decide on a paint scheme and unique branding for the vehicle before making the purchase. If the council ultimately makes the trolley project a priority, Pyle said, he hopes the city would be able to have the vehicle operational in time for the 2016 holiday season ... [© 2015 Hanford Sentinel, 300 West 6th Street Hanford, CA] ... http://www.manta.com/mb_51_ALL_1PK/hanford_ca Companies in Hanford-CA (4,725) ... [video dated https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_uk0kgA7ts Hanford Commercial Dibblefilm Dec 28, 2013 Commercial I made for the Hanford (CA) Visitors Agency in 1998. Shot on 16mm. Featuring Dick Hauck, Julie Evans and Art the Bull. And Freddie the Fire Truck. ] For EVLN EV-newswire posts use: http://evdl.org/evln/ {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-Hanford-CA-explores-Electrifying-Freddie-the-50-Fire-Truck-tp4679432.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Read EVAngel's EV News at http://evdl.org/evln/ Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
