BALTIMORE--May 11, 2012: Baltimore's first propane autogas taxi fleet will be launched today at a special ceremony during which Baltimore City Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake will take the city's first propane taxi ride.
“As a leader in the transportation industry, Veolia Transportation is committed to enhancing mobility and improving the quality of life for people in cities by operating and managing top quality, environmentally sustainable transportation networks”
The ceremony, set to begin 12:30 p.m. at the Mid-Atlantic headquarters of Veolia Transportation (2100 Huntingdon Avenue, Baltimore, MD), will feature addresses by U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Maryland State Comptroller Peter Franchot, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Mark Smith, Vehicle Technologies Deployment Manager for the U.S. Department of Energy, Stuart Weidie, President of Alliance AutoGas/President & CEO of Blossman Gas and Mark Joseph, Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of Veolia Transportation.
Veolia Transportation-- the largest private provider of multiple modes of transportation in North America -- is converting 300 of its taxis nationwide from gasoline to propane autogas. The company has also installed an autogas fueling station in Baltimore to serve 50 Checker and Yellow taxis.
Veolia Transportation is Baltimore City's largest operator of taxicab services. Operating under the names Yellow, Checker, and Sun Cabs in Baltimore City, and Jimmy's Cab in Baltimore County, the company currently serves approximately 5 million people annually with a fleet of nearly 700 vehicles.
"Propane autogas is the most widely used alternative fuel in the world," explains Joseph. "With the price of propane autogas averaging $1 per gallon less than gasoline, vehicle conversions and fueling infrastructure are particularly cost-effective for fleets such as ours at Veolia."
Veolia Transportation's propane autogas vehicle conversions are being completed under the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program (SPADP). Under the public-private partnership, Program fleets are converting more than 1,200 autogas vehicles and implementing more than 30 autogas fueling stations throughout the southeastern U.S., Pittsburgh and Denver.
"We're excited to help these fleets shift to an environmentally friendly, affordable fuel like propane autogas," says Alleyn Harned of Virginia Clean Cities, the lead Program administrator. "As these vehicle conversions are completed, we will be educating local communities about the benefits of this domestic fuel. Clean and cost-effective for fleets, propane autogas reduces greenhouse gas emissions and our dependence on imported oil."
"As a leader in the transportation industry, Veolia Transportation is committed to enhancing mobility and improving the quality of life for people in cities by operating and managing top quality, environmentally sustainable transportation networks," says Joseph. "Converting our Baltimore taxi fleet from gasoline to propane autogas is yet another step in meeting that commitment."
In addition to the 50 Checker Yellow taxis in Baltimore by the end of 2012, Veolia Transportation will convert more than 250 of the taxis it operates in Pittsburgh, Jacksonville and Denver to run on propane autogas.
Veolia Transdev currently operates in 28 countries and provides 2.63 billion passenger trips per year. In the U.S. and Canada alone, Veolia Transportation operates service in 200 contracts with 18,000 employees. The company manages multiple modes of public transportation, including bus, rail, paratransit, taxi and shuttle services, in both urban and regional areas.
Veolia Transportation is the North American business unit of Veolia Transdev, a global leader in passenger transportation services.
For more information, visit Veolia Transportation.