Cape Coral charter schools need new buses

Cape Coral needs new wheels for its charter schools, but neighbors are worried they’re going to have to pay for them.

Will taxpayer money be used for these buses? The cost will not come out of your pocket. The Charter School Authority will foot the bill to lease seven new school buses. Now, which type of bus will they pick? Now that part is still up for debate.

Charter schools in the Cape need more school buses. The charter school system bought 13 buses back in 2011. But, 11 years later, even regular maintenance is costly. So Cape Coral City Council will discuss leasing school buses.

Melissa Mickey is the communications manager for the City of Cape Coral. “Obviously, cost-wise but obviously to the environment because that’s always a concern to,” Mickey said.

There are four choices on the table: propane, compressed natural gas, electric and diesel. Three of those types, propane, compressed natural gas, and electric all have similar pros and cons. All three of these types are better for the environment, quieter and maintenance costs are lower.

Negatives include a lack of existing infrastructure, and every driver would need to be retrained. So, the staff recommends that city council go with near-zero emission diesel engines and stay with diesel buses.

Why? “They’re reliable. They’re durable they have a lot of safety features. There’s a lot of parts availability, and you know parts at this time is difficult,” said Mickey.

Also, part of that recommendation is for the city to continue to work toward the goal of zero-emission buses.

“It’s something that’s going to benefit that’s not just going to benefit the city but the community as a whole,” Mickey said. “You know the less emissions. The less effects were having on the environment, the better.”

Cape Coral City Council will discuss these buses during Wednesday’s committee of the whole meeting, but members won’t vote.

The city says the reason they’re going for leasing over buying is that it spreads the cost over a few years to create predictability in annual expenses.