The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) will be seeking a private company to develop a large network of compressed natural gas (CNG) refueling infrastructure in the state.
Spearheaded through Pennsylvania's Public-Private Partnership (P3) initiative, PennDOT and its transit agency partners will work with a competitively selected private entity to install CNG stations that transit fleets throughout the state can use. These sites will also offer public-access natural gas vehicle refueling capabilities.
According to PennDOT, CNG will be added at up to 37 transit facilities.
‘This is a tremendous opportunity for PennDOT and its transit-agency partners to team with the private sector to take advantage of the state's natural gas resources, save money and improve our environment,’ says PennDOT Secretary and P3 Board Chairman Barry J. Schoch.
The private partner will design, build, finance, operate and maintain the CNG stations. PennDOT will enter into a CNG supply contract with the partner, as well as implement purchase agreements with each of the transit agencies. PennDOT will receive a portion of the fuel sales revenue, and that money will be ‘returned to transit agencies to assist with future capital projects.’
PennDOT is expected to solicit proposals from qualified parties early next year and says a project team could be selected in summer 2015.
