safety improvements such as the cameras on our vehicles.” There are also plans to bring in equipment for drivers to do safety training exercises. Additionally, investments have been made in exterior lighting, security enhancements and safety arms on wheelchair equipped vehicles. Growing staff needs have also prompted renovations to the facility. “We moved into our current building about a year and a half ago, and we are already outgrowing the administrative office,” Torres acknowledges. “So, we are spending some of those capital dollars to renovate the warehouse area. We will be putting a driver’s hub in that area where they can come in, have lunch, and relax.” This new area will include a kitchen area, lockers, and collaboration pods designed to encourage teamwork and provide a comfortable space for the team. Another major upgrade for the agency is the transition to bi-fuel vehicles.Thirteen vehicles have already been converted, a decision that Torres says has significantly reduced fuel costs. “The vehicles start on gasoline, and once they’re warmed up, they switch over to propane, and they’re run on propane for the majority of the day” she conveys. “It is very efficient. Our vehicles were going to the gas station every day, and at over $3 per gallon for about 50 gallons of gas, that’s a lot of money at the 165 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 12 UNION COUNTY TRANSPORTATION
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