Business View Magazine | September 2020

125 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020 www.ltk.com Vehicle Engineering Systems Engineering Revenue Systems and Technology Opera�ons Planning and Simula�on Op�miza�on Zero-Emissions Proud to support Public Transit Director Thomas George and the Niagara Fron�er Transporta�on Authority System Assurance Advisory Services NI AGARA FRONT I ER TRANSPORTAT ION AUTHOR I TY natural gas,” says George. “The last buses were brought in to complete that fleet this year, and we’re extending that fueling station. We’re also working on electrifying one of our other three bus garages, and that’s a huge initiative. One third of our fleet will be compressed natural gas, and now another third will be a battery electric bus facility. In order to do this, we have to bring new power to the bus garage and bring in charging stations. We’re retrofitting the facility with gantries on the ceilings so that buses can park and be charged overnight by way of overhead pantographs.” George acknowledges that while the cost of procuring battery electric buses is considerably higher than diesel vehicles, they will be more cost effective in the long term, and they also align with their vision of pushing towards greater environmental sustainability. “There are some challenges that come with electric buses when you operate in a colder environment like ours, but there’s a lot of attraction to sway from combustion engines and move towards electric buses, and we’re excited about it.” Upgrading and electrifying the garage is a $15 million project that is expected to be completed by the fall of 2021. While the demand for public transit continues to evolve, NFTA is staying ahead of the curve with innovation and commitment to perpetual improvement. “With telecommuting and distance learning advancing, it’s changing the way people use transit,” says George. “We want to head into the future with transit-oriented development. Electric buses, reducing our emissions, urban planning, using technology to our advantage, that’s where we want to go. These are the types of things from a business perspective that we are going to pick up and run with.” As public transit moves forward, the NFTA isn’t along for the ride, it’s providing it. Daniel C. Brockway Vice President dcbrockway@dcbelevator.com W W W . D C B E L E V A T O R . C O M Office: 716.754.1645 Cell: 716.807.2162 Fax: 716.754.1648 SALES • SERVICE • CONSULTING As one of the largest independent commercial elevator contractors in Up State New York for over 35 years, D.C.B. Elevator Co., Inc. provides contract maintenance, repair, installation and modernization of all makes of elevators, escalators, dumbwaiters and handicap lift equipment. D.C.B. ELEVATOR CO., INC. is a Certified DBE and NYS Certified WBE