Oakland International Airport (OAK), the fourth busiest airport in the state of California, has welcomed nine new parking shuttle buses powered by compressed natural gas (CNG).
Having completed testing, the blue buses are now in use by the airport, which says it offers the “convenient and environmentally sustainable service” between airline terminals and parking facilities.
The new fleet replaces 2003 Ford Aerotech “Cutaway”-style minibuses with El Dorado Class-E buses from Creative Bus Sales. According to OAK’s estimates, the CNG shuttle buses can reduce the airport’s fuel costs by up to 50% and greenhouse-gas emissions by 25%.
OAK’s public and employee parking facilities – the Economy Lot, the Oakland Maintenance Center Lot and the Neil Armstrong Lot – are a short bus ride away from the terminals. During the last fiscal year, which ended in June, 921,457 passengers used OAK parking shuttles; this is up 5% from 875,381 passengers served in the prior fiscal year.
“Safety, security and enhanced customer service are top priorities at OAK. This is just as true for customers boarding aircraft as it is for passengers riding the new and improved parking shuttles. From concept to delivery, this journey has been extremely rewarding,” says Alma Peña, acting parking and ground transportation manager, who has been overseeing OAK’s parking facilities for 10 out of her 21 years with the Port of Oakland, which operates the airport.
