The Campus Transportation Advisory Committee unanimously voted Wednesday to raise student fees about $15 over the course of two years to fund the purchase of eight hybrid buses, DOTS officials said.

The hybrid buses would be the first of their kind at the university, a purchase Department of Transportation Services Director David Allen said may cost more but will help the university use 30 percent less gas and leave a 30-percent smaller carbon footprint than the campus’ current buses.

A regular diesel bus costs about $360,000, Allen said, but a hybrid runs much more expensive – costing about $585,000 and taking more than a year to be delivered. The roughly $200,000 price difference would not be completely made up for by a decrease in gas use, though Allen estimated each hybrid bus would save the university $10,000 a year in fuel costs.

Before the university purchases the buses, the Committee for the Review of Student Fees, a board that oversees student fees, must approve the $15 hike, which would likely occur in fall 2010 and fall 2011. The buses would be purchased in 2012.

The pricier budget was overwhelmingly supported by CTAC, a group composed of about 10 representatives from the Student Government Association, the Graduate Student Government, the Residence Hall Association, faculty and staff, Allen said.

“Both the SGA and GSG – and faculty and staff members – were, I would say, enthusiastic about it, very forward-thinking about it,” Allen said. “The forward-thinking part is that it’s an investment for those who follow us. … I was actually impressed with the group at how progressive they were.”

SGA President Jonathan Sachs said he understands while fiscally conservative students may be skeptical to have their fees raised amid a time of record-high gas prices, he’s not surprised the push for a greener campus won.

Joanna Calabrese, a CTAC member and SGA senior vice president, attended Wednesday’s meeting.

“We think, that in terms of the publicity it will bring to our school and the 30-percent reductions in each bus’s carbon footprint, it’s totally worth the investment,” she said.

Calabrese said the purchase would be in line with the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, a document signed by university President Dan Mote promising lower emissions and a greener campus. Allen said he would have to replace both a diesel or hybrid bus after 12 years, meaning a hybrid bus would save $120,000 in fuel costs throughout its lifetime but still end up costing $80,000 more.

“I don’t think that anyone will look at a rise in transportation fees and say, ‘What? Why?'” Calabrese said. “I think people understand the current situation with rising gas prices and our dependence on foreign oil. People see what’s going on with the economy.”

But the budget isn’t final yet, as the student fee review board must first approve it. Sachs, who sits on the committee, said he’s eager to hear student feedback on the proposed fee increase and encourages students to voice their opinions at next week’s SGA meeting.

“I think it’s definitely a healthy discussion to have,” he said. As for whether or not he predicts other students will share in CTAC’s sentiments, he answered, “We’ll see, won’t we?”

The university has 50 buses, Allen said. The potential purchase of eight hybrid buses may lead to a discussion about entering a long-term commitment to replace all diesel buses with the environmentally friendly option.

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