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88-608: METRO is Maine's largest public transportation agency. The transit system's annual ridership was 1,850,686 in 2017. As of 2016, METRO operated a fleet of eighteen compressed natural gas (CNG) buses and fourteen diesel buses. It operates and maintains the only CNG fuel station in the state of Maine. The ancestor to the METRO, the Portland and Forest Avenue Railroad Co., began operating horse-drawn lines in 1860. They were upgraded to streetcars in 1891, which operated for fifty years before

176-514: A 500 percent increase in the number of new CNG cylinders installed. National car maker Proton considered fitting its Waja , Saga and Persona models with CNG kits from Prins Autogassystemen by the end of 2008, while a local distributor of locally assembled Hyundai cars offers new models with CNG kits. Conversion centres, which also benefited from the rush for lower running costs, also perform partial conversions to existing road vehicles, allowing them to run on both petrol or diesel and CNG with

264-414: A CNG cylinder, plumbing, a CNG injection system, and electronics. The cost of installing a CNG conversion kit can often reach $ 8,000 on passenger cars and light trucks, and is usually reserved for vehicles that travel many miles each year. CNG costs about 50% less than petrol, and emits up to 90% fewer emissions than petrol. CNG locomotives are operated by several railroads. The Napa Valley Wine Train in

352-509: A consequence of this, LNG is often used for transporting natural gas over large distances, in ships, trains or pipelines, where the gas is converted into CNG before distribution to the end user. Natural gas is being experimentally stored at lower pressure in a form known as an ANG ( adsorbed natural gas ) cylinder, where it is adsorbed at 35 bar (500 psi, the pressure of gas in natural gas pipelines) in various sponge-like materials, such as carbon and MOFs ( metal-organic frameworks ). The fuel

440-922: A cost varying between RM3,500 to RM5,000 for passenger cars. The Ministry of Transport of Myanmar passed a law in 2005 which required that all public transport vehicles – buses, trucks and taxis, be converted to run on CNG. The Government permitted several private companies to handle the conversion of existing diesel and petrol cars, and also to begin importing CNG variants of buses and taxis. Accidents and rumours of accidents, partly fueled by Myanmar's position in local hydrocarbon politics, has discouraged citizens from using CNG vehicles, although now almost every taxi and public bus in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, run on CNG. CNG stations have been set up around Yangon and other cities, but electricity shortages mean that vehicles may have to queue up for hours to fill their gas containers. The Burmese opposition movements are against

528-624: A day in advance, eliminated shared trips, reduced in-transit time, and reduced the pickup wait time from 30 minutes to as low as 5 minutes in the urban core. With the subsidy cap initially set at $ 13, the MBTA reduced the average cost of a paratransit trip from $ 35 to $ 9. Pilot participants on average substantially increased the number of trips they took, but still at a lower overall cost to the agency. Availability of wheelchair-accessible vehicles remained an occasional problem, but these were only needed by about 20% of paratransit riders. Before passage of

616-500: A flexible system of small vehicles a less expensive alternative for accessibility than options with larger, fixed-route vehicles. This however ended up not being the case. Often paratransit services were being filled up to their capacity. In some cases, leaving individuals who were in need of the door to door service provided by paratransit unable to utilize it due to the fact that disabled people who could use fixed-route vehicles also found themselves using these paratransit services. With

704-980: A free unlimited METRO pass starting in 2015. The program has generated 250,000 boardings for the agency while allowing Portland Public Schools greater flexibility with school bell times and repurposing staff and equipment resources to other priorities. Portland charter school Baxter Academy for Technology and Science also offers METRO passes to students. The METRO BREEZ express service started in June 2016. It serves Portland, Falmouth, Yarmouth, Freeport and Brunswick. Two new lines debuted in August 2018 serving Gorham and adding expanded service to Westbrook. New buses with USB ports and Wi-Fi were introduced around 2020, as were bus shelters. In 2024, Greater Portland Transit District began using Equans's NAVINEO computer aided dispatch and automatic vehicle location (CAD/AVL), an intelligent transportation system (ITS), and Optibus, which will assist

792-511: A fuel and compared to petrol, CNG has an advantageous fiscal treatment with lower excises duties (although VAT is always paid). Since CNG, as a car fuel, is not totally exempted of excise duties, CNG cars do not pay a prime road tax to partially compensate the State for the loss of revenue. Instead LPG cars pay a prime road tax in Belgium, because LPG is totally exempted from excise duties. Since CNG

880-491: A major transfer point. Intercity service from York County , Maine's southernmost county, connects to the METRO system at The Maine Mall and at several stops along Congress Street . The South Portland Bus Service also connects to METRO at these locations. Local routes are numbered 1 through 9, with the 9 split into 9A and 9B. There is currently no route 6. There is one lettered route, the Husky Line (H), which connects

968-547: A mixture of diesel and CNG. The first commercial CNG station in Skopje is in the advanced stage of development and was expected to start operation in July 2011. In Serbia , there are about 20 public CNG refuelling stations as of August 2019. Four in the capital Belgrade , and the rest in the towns of Subotica (1), Novi Sad (1), Zrenjanin (1), Pancevo (2), Kruševac (1), Kragujevac (1), Cacak (2), and so on. Detailed list

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1056-526: A peer review of large urban paratransit systems in the US in 2009: In response to increasing ridership and costs of providing paratransit service, WMATA made two significant changes beginning in 2010: the paratransit service area was reduced from jurisdictional boundaries to the ADA requirement of within a 3/4 mile corridor of fixed-route services; and, fares were linked to WMATA 's fixed route services and charged to

1144-709: A pilot project in Benin City Edo State in 2010 by NIPCO Gas Limited . NIPCO Gas Limited is a 100% subsidiary of NIPCO PLC . As of June 2020, seven CNG stations have been built in Benin City Edo State , with about 7,500 cars running on CNG in Benin City Edo state . In Benin City Edo state , major companies such as Coca-Cola , 7up , Yongxing Steel are using CNG to power their fork-lifts/trucks while Edo City Transport Ltd (ECTS)

1232-500: A regular vehicle to dual fuel at the German conversion workshop of C. Melchers, for example, is around S$ 3,800; with the promise of real cost-savings that dual-fuel vehicles bring over the long term. Singapore currently has five operating filling stations for natural gas. Sembcorp Gas Pte Ltd. runs the station on Jurong Island and, jointly with Singapore Petroleum Company , the filling station at Jalan Buroh. Both these stations are in

1320-541: A service area. In addition to public transit agencies, paratransit services may be operated by community groups or not-for-profit organizations, and for-profit private companies or operators. The concept of intermediate public transport (IPT) or paratransit, exhibits considerable variation between developed and developing nations. In developed countries, it is typically a flexible, demand-responsive form of public transportation designed to provide point-to-point service. These systems are generally well-structured and organized. On

1408-540: A smartcard or the UMO mobile app. Standard fares are $ 2 for all local service, and $ 4 for the BREEZ service. Passengers may transfer for free within 90 minutes if using the mobile app or smartcard. If transferring to the BREEZ, passengers pay the difference in fare. A fare capping system has been implemented, so that after $ 6 in local fares or $ 12 in BREEZ express fares are paid in a calendar day, no more fares will be charged to

1496-976: A subsector and business in its own right. The term paratransit is rarely used outside of North America. Projects in the broader sense were documented by the Urban Institute in the 1974 book Para-transit: Neglected options for urban mobility , followed a year later by the first international overview, Paratransit: Survey of International Experience and Prospects . Robert Cervero 's 1997 book, Paratransit in America: Redefining Mass Transportation , embraced this wider definition of paratransit, arguing that America's mass transit sector should enlarge to include micro-vehicles, minibuses, and shared-taxi services found in many developing cities. Paratransit, as an alternative mode of flexible passenger transportation that does not follow fixed routes or schedules, are common and often offer

1584-750: A substantial daily income, which supports their livelihoods. Typically, minibuses are used to provide paratransit service in USA. Most paratransit vehicles are equipped with wheelchair lifts or ramps to facilitate access. In the United States , private transportation companies often provide paratransit service in cities and metropolitan areas under contract to local public transportation agencies. The use of "paratransit" ("para transit", "para-transit") has evolved and taken on two somewhat separate broad sets of meaning and application in North America;

1672-432: Is a central organization recognized by the government which "promotes excellence through training, publications, advice, events and project support on voluntary, community and accessible transport." In Zagreb , Croatia , the municipal mass transit operator ZET operates a fleet of minibuses equipped with several seats and lift for wheelchairs for on-demand transport of disabled persons. In Hong Kong , Rehabus service

1760-575: Is a very new fuel. At the beginning of 2014 there were only 17 refuelling stations, all of them in Flanders , but the number is now increasing rapidly. At the beginning of 2015 there were 29 refueling stations in Belgium, all of them in Flanders. As of January 2017, there are 76 active refueling stations in Belgium, most of them being in Flanders since only 7 of them are in Wallonia or Brussels . As

1848-421: Is aiming to increase the use of CNG powered vehicles by setting up more CNG stations in the country, the aim is to increase the current number to 8000 CNG Stations in the next two years. As of December 2022, the state of Gujarat has the highest number of CNG Pumps in the country followed by Uttar Pradesh being the second highest and with Maharashtra falling little behind the above regions. In Pakistan ,

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1936-688: Is also increasing in South America , Europe , and North America , because of rising petrol prices. Egypt is amongst the top 10 countries in CNG adoption, with 128,754 CNG vehicles and 124 CNG fueling stations. Egypt was also the first nation in Africa and the Middle East to open a public CNG fueling station in January 1996. The vast majority (780,000) have been produced as dual fuel-vehicles by

2024-424: Is also running some of its buses on CNG. Kwale, Nigeria CNG stations were inaugurated by Mr. Abhishek Sharma, the head of marketing (Natural Gas) from NIPCO Gas Limited in 2019. In China , companies such as Sino-Energy are active in expanding the footprint of CNG filling stations in medium-size cities across the interior of the country, where at least two natural gas pipelines are operational. In Malaysia ,

2112-457: Is an unfunded mandate . Under the ADA, complementary paratransit service is required for passengers who are 1) Unable to navigate the public bus system, 2) unable to get to a point from which they could access the public bus system, or 3) have a temporary need for these services because of injury or some type of limited duration cause of disability (49 CFR 37.123). Title 49 Part 37 details the eligibility rules along with requirements governing how

2200-492: Is an additional barrier to NGV market penetration. The International Organization for Standardization has an active technical committee working on a standard for natural gas fuelling stations for vehicles. Despite the lack of harmonized international codes, natural gas vehicles have an excellent global safety record. Existing international standards include ISO 14469-2:2007 which applies to CNG vehicle nozzles and receptacle and ISO 15500-9:2012 specifies tests and requirements for

2288-565: Is another field being applied to paratransit operations. Some companies are beginning to integrate cloud computing models to find operational efficiencies and cost savings for smaller paratransit service providers. There is no legislation providing details on paratransit standards, but the Canadian Urban Transit Association has provided voluntary guidelines for member transit agencies to use to determine paratransit needs and standards. Various operators including

2376-645: Is between 1/3 and 1/2 compared to other fossil fuels in Europe. In 2016 there are around 900 CNG stations in Germany and major German car manufacturers like Volkswagen, Mercedes, Opel, Audi offer CNG engines on most of their models. Augsburg is one of the few cities that only run CNG operated public buses since 2011. In Turkey , Ankara municipality is increasingly using CNG buses, where numbers have reached 1090 by 2011. Istanbul has started in 2014 with an order of 110 buses. Konya also added 60 buses to its fleet

2464-517: Is considerably higher than traditional fixed-route bus service, with Maryland's Mobility service reporting per-passenger costs of over $ 40 per trip in 2010. Paratransit ridership growth of more than 10% per year was reported in the District of Columbia metropolitan area for 2006 through 2009. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority 's MetroAccess service in Washington, D.C. conducted

2552-629: Is currently available on CNGEurope Web site. In Slovenia , there are four public CNG refuelling stations as of December 2018. Two in the capital Ljubljana , and one each in Maribor and Jesenice . Additionally, at least 14 new refuelling stations are planned in all city municipalities by the end of 2020. Ljubljana Passenger Transport operates 66 CNG fuelled city buses, as of May 2016. Its Maribor counterpart, Marprom has 19 CNG city buses in their fleet, as of October 2018. In Croatia , there are two public CNG refuelling stations situated close to

2640-482: Is filled by absorbers such as activated carbon (which is an adsorbent with high surface area) and stores natural gas by both CNG and ANG mechanisms. Compressed natural gas is sometimes mixed with hydrogen ( HCNG ), which increases the H/C ratio ( hydrogen/carbon ratio ) of the fuel and gives it a flame speed up to eight times higher than CNG. The lack of harmonized codes and standards across international jurisdictions

2728-499: Is installation on roof (typical on buses), but this could require structural modifications. In 2014, a test (by the Danish Technological Institute) of Euro6 heavy vehicles on CNG and diesel showed that CNG had higher fuel consumption, the same noise and production of CO 2 and particulates, but NO X emission was lower. Leakage of unburned methane as natural gas is a significant issue because methane,

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2816-508: Is not liquefied , and is 25 percent that of diesel fuel. Gases provided the original fuel for internal combustion engines . The first experiments with compressed gases took place in France in the 1850s. Natural gas first became a transport fuel during World War I. In the 1960s, Columbia Natural Gas of Ohio tested a CNG carrier . The ship was to carry compressed natural gas in vertical pressure bottles; however, this design failed because of

2904-604: Is not totally exempted of excise duties, in Belgium it is allowed to connect a car to the home network of natural gas and to refuel the car from home. The purchase of CNG cars is not subsidised by the government, but by the Belgian producers and distributors of natural gas. Fiat and Volkswagen sell factory-equipped CNG-cars in Belgium. At the end of 2018 there were 11,188 vehicles running with CNG in Belgium. In Germany , CNG-generated vehicles are expected to increase to two million units of motor-transport by 2020. The cost for CNG fuel

2992-650: Is provided by the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation. The New Zealand Transport Agency provides a comprehensive list of options in the country, including Total Mobility (TM) in Auckland . In Australia, Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport under subsection 31 (1) of the Disability Discrimination Act of 1992 mandated that as of 2002 "all new public transport conveyances, premises and infrastructure must comply with

3080-448: Is stored at low temperature and nearly ambient pressure. In their respective storage conditions, LNG is a liquid and CNG is a supercritical fluid . CNG has a lower cost of production and storage compared to LNG as it does not require an expensive cooling process and cryogenic tanks. However, CNG requires a much larger volume to store the energy equivalent of petrol and the use of very high pressures (3000 to 4000 psi, or 205 to 275 bar). As

3168-459: Is stored at similar or greater energy density than CNG. This means that vehicles can be refueled from the natural gas network without extra gas compression, the fuel cylinders can be slimmed down and made of lighter, weaker materials. It is possible to mix the ANG and CNG technology to reach an increased capacity of natural gas storage. In this process known as high pressure ANG, a high pressure CNG tank

3256-410: Is the major barrier to wider/quicker adoption of CNG as a fuel. It is also why municipal government, public transportation vehicles were the most visible early adopters of it, as they can more quickly amortize the money invested in the new (and usually cheaper) fuel. In spite of these circumstances, the number of vehicles in the world using CNG has grown steadily (30 percent per year). Now, as a result of

3344-429: Is used in traditional petrol/ internal combustion engine vehicles that have been modified, or in vehicles specifically manufactured for CNG use: either alone (dedicated), with a segregated liquid fuel system to extend range (dual fuel), or in conjunction with another fuel ( bi-fuel ). It can be used in place of petrol , diesel fuel , and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). CNG combustion produces fewer undesirable gases than

3432-657: The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), paratransit was provided by not-for-profit human service agencies and public transit agencies in response to the requirements in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Section 504 prohibited the exclusion of disabled people from "any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance". In Title 49 Part 37 (49 CFR 37) of the Code of Federal Regulations ,

3520-536: The Federal Transit Administration defined requirements for making buses accessible or providing complementary paratransit services within public transit service areas. Most transit agencies did not see fixed route accessibility as desirable and opted for a flexible system of small paratransit vehicles operating parallel to a system of larger, fixed-route buses. The expectation was that the paratransit services would not be heavily used, making

3608-709: The TTC , BC Transit , OC Transpo and TransLink offer the service, and in the province of British Columbia paratransit is referred to as HandyDART throughout by both major transit operators. Paratransit systems in many developing world cities are operated by individuals and small business. The fragmented, intensely competitive nature of the industry makes government regulation and control much harder than traditional public transport. Government authorities have cited problems with unsafe vehicles and drivers as justifying efforts to regulate and "formalize" paratransit operations. However, these efforts have been limited by ignorance on

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3696-638: The ADA allowable maximum of two times the fastest equivalent bus or rail fare. These changes helped result in the first-ever reduction in the number of year-over-year trips between 2011 and 2012. Annually, the Canadian Urban Transit Association publishes a fact book providing statistics for all of the Ontario specialized public transit services; as of 2015 there were 79 in operation. The complicated nature of providing paratransit service in accordance with ADA guidelines led to

3784-837: The Gorham and Portland campuses of the University of Southern Maine . There is one express route, the BREEZ, which runs between Portland and Brunswick; on signage, it is identified as "B". METRO, along with the South Portland Bus Service and Biddeford-Saco-Old Orchard Beach Transit, participates in a regional automated fare collection system known as DiriGo Pass. This system uses the UMO Pass platform developed by Cubic. Monthly, daily, and ten-ride paper passes have been phased out, and are no longer accepted. Instead, passengers load money onto their account and pay fares using

3872-668: The Karachi government under the order of the Supreme Court in 2004 made it mandatory for all city buses and auto rickshaws to run on CNG with the intention of reducing air pollution. In 2012, the federal government announced plans to gradually phase out CNG over a period of approximately three years given natural gas shortages which have been negatively affecting the manufacturing sector. Aside from limiting electricity generation capacity, gas shortages in Pakistan have also raised

3960-542: The OMV (open market value) cost of newly registered green passenger vehicles. This initiative will end at the end of 2012 as the government believes the 'critical mass' of CNG vehicles would then have been built up. Due to reliability issues and lower ranges that CNG provided (as cited by users’ feedback), refueling stations mostly concentrated in the western end of Singapore, the rising demand of greener solutions like hybrid technologies, led to its demise where both public buses and

4048-542: The Regional Transportation Program paratransit service. Compressed natural gas Compressed natural gas ( CNG ) is a fuel gas mainly composed of methane (CH 4 ), compressed to less than 1% of the volume it occupies at standard atmospheric pressure . It is stored and distributed in hard containers at a pressure of 20–25 megapascals (2,900–3,600 psi; 200–250 atm), usually in cylindrical or spherical shapes. CNG

4136-700: The US successfully retrofitted a diesel locomotive to run on compressed natural gas before 2002. This converted locomotive was upgraded to utilize a computer-controlled fuel injection system in May 2008, and is now the Napa Valley Wine Train's primary locomotive. Ferrocarril Central Andino in Peru, has run a CNG locomotive on a freight line since 2005. CNG locomotives are usually diesel–electric locomotives that have been converted to use compressed natural gas generators instead of diesel generators to generate

4224-562: The account. Fares are also capped at $ 60 in a calendar month for local fares, and $ 120 for BREEZ fares. Reduced fare is half of the normal fare, and the monthly and daily caps are half of the standard caps. Reduced fares are applicable for persons with disabilities, anyone over 65, veterans, youth ages 6–18, and Medicare card holders. Cash continues to be accepted; however, no free transfers are available. METRO buses are equipped with passenger lifts or ramps and contain space for two riders using wheelchairs. Riders with mobility needs can also use

4312-481: The aforementioned fuels. In comparison to other fuels, natural gas poses less of a threat in the event of a spill , because it is lighter than air and disperses quickly when released. Biomethane , biogas from anaerobic digestion or landfill , can be used. In response to high fuel prices and environmental concerns, CNG has been used in auto rickshaws , pickup trucks , transit and school buses , and trains . The cost and placement of fuel storage containers

4400-496: The auto manufacturer in the last two years, and the remainder have been converted utilizing after market conversion kits in workshops. There are 750 active refueling stations country wide with an additional 660 refueling stations under construction and expected to come on stream. Currently the major problem facing the industry as a whole is the building of refueling stations that is lagging behind dual fuel vehicle production, forcing many to use petrol instead. Nigeria CNG started with

4488-471: The beginning of 2005, 10,300 CNG busses and 20,000 CNG cars ran on Delhi’s roads. In 2006 Fiat Siena Tetrafuel was introduced in the Brazilian market, equipped with a 1.4-litre FIRE engine that runs on E100, E25 (Standard Brazilian Gasoline), Ethanol, and CNG. Any existing petrol vehicle can be converted to a dual-fuel petrol/CNG vehicle. Authorized shops can do the retrofitting, which involves installing

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4576-532: The bus, rail and motor coach trade magazine Metro Magazine began conducting annual surveys of public and private paratransit providers: The US Government Accountability Office GAO released a report in November 2012 for the Federal Transit Administration which "examined: (1) the extent of compliance with ADA paratransit requirements, (2) changes in ADA paratransit demand and costs since 2007, and (3) actions transit agencies are taking to help address changes in

4664-598: The capital Sofia there are 22 CNG stations making it possibly the city with the most publicly available CNG stations in Europe. There are also quite a few in Plovdiv , Ruse , Stara Zagora and Veliko Tarnovo as well as in the towns on the Black Sea – Varna , Burgas , Nesebar and Kavarna . CNG vehicles are becoming more and more popular in the country. The fuel is mostly used by taxi drivers because of its much lower price compared to petrol. Currently (as of July, 2015)

4752-625: The center of Zagreb and in Rijeka . At least 60 CNG buses are in use as a form of a public transport ( Zagreb public transport services ). Paratransit Paratransit (the term used in North America ) or intermediate public transport (also known by other names such as community transport ( UK )), is a type of transportation service that supplements fixed-route mass transit by providing individualized rides without fixed routes or timetables. Paratransit services may vary considerably on

4840-415: The city of Sofia is rapidly renewing its public transport fleet with MAN Lion's City buses running on CNG. Also, many companies switch to CNG cargo vans and even heavy trucks for their daily operations within city limits. In North Macedonia , there is one CNG station located in the capital Skopje, but it is not for public use. Only twenty buses of the local Public Transport Company have been fitted to use

4928-579: The city), and the Portland School Department began operating its own buses in 1985. The system began to turnaround in the late 1990s, and in 2004 it expanded to Falmouth , which later joined the Greater Portland Transit District. Portland Public Schools ended yellow school bus transportation for all of Portland's high school students and entered into an agreement with METRO to provide each student with

5016-668: The company in managing detours in real time, adding or removing trips and will support detailed ridership analysis. It will also allow the configuration of automatic voice announcements (AVA). METRO operates two hubs: one in downtown Portland, called the METRO Pulse, and one in downtown Westbrook, also known as the Westbrook Hub. Additionally, the Portland Transportation Center , which provides an intercity bus connection and Amtrak service , serves as

5104-559: The company switched to buses. The company's new parent, Central Maine Power , sold the buses to Portland Coach Company in 1944. Concerned about the viability of transit in the region, the Greater Portland Transit District was created in 1966. Three years later it purchased the struggling Portland Coach Company, which became METRO in 1976. Several municipalities serviced by METRO withdrew during an age of contraction; service to Yarmouth and Cape Elizabeth ended in 1978, South Portland withdrew in 1983 (although METRO continues to run select buses to

5192-416: The conversion to CNG, as they accuse the companies of being proxies of the junta, and also their desire that the petrodollars earned by the regime should go towards the defense sector rather than towards improving the infrastructure or welfare of the people. In India , there are over 4500 CNG Stations all over the country now as compared to 2014 when the country only had about 900 CNG Stations. The government

5280-431: The costs of business for key industries including the fertilizer, cement and textile sectors. In Singapore, CNG was once used by public transport vehicles like buses and taxis, as well as goods vehicles until 2018. During its heyday in 2008 onwards, more owners of private cars had sought interest in converting their petrol-driven vehicles to also run on CNG – due to rising petrol prices. The initial cost of converting

5368-447: The cylinders used to store the CNG take up space in the trunk of a car or bed of a pickup truck that has been modified to additionally run on CNG. This problem is solved in factory-built CNG vehicles that install the cylinders under the body of the vehicle, leaving the trunk free, e.g. , Fiat Multipla , New Fiat Panda , Volkswagen Touran Ecofuel, Volkswagen Caddy Ecofuel, Chevy Taxi, which sold in countries such as Peru. Another option

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5456-413: The degree of flexibility they provide their customers. At their simplest they may consist of a taxi or small bus that will run along a more or less defined route and then stop to pick up or discharge passengers on request. At the other end of the spectrum—fully demand-responsive transport —the most flexible paratransit systems offer on-demand call-up door-to-door service from any origin to any destination in

5544-581: The demand for and costs of ADA paratransit service." The report found that "average number of annual ADA paratransit trips provided by a transit agency increased 7 percent from 2007 to 2010" and that the average cost of providing a paratransit trip is "an estimated three and a half times more expensive than the average cost of $ 8.15 to provide a fixed-route trip." . The Maryland Transit Administration reported paratransit ridership increases of 15% in fiscal 2012, with double-digit increases expected in fiscal 2013 and 2014. The cost of providing paratransit service

5632-470: The development of sophisticated software for the industry. Intelligent transportation systems technologies, primarily GPS , mobile data terminals , digital mobile radios , and cell phones, and scheduling, dispatching, and call reservation software are now in use increasingly in North America and Europe. Interactive voice response systems and web-based initiatives are the next technology innovation anticipated for paratransit services. Advanced analytics

5720-409: The electricity that drives the traction motors. Some CNG locomotives are able to selectively fire their cylinders only when there is a demand for power, which, theoretically, gives them a higher fuel-efficiency than conventional diesel engines. CNG is also cheaper than petrol or diesel fuel. CNG is used to transport natural gas by sea for intermediate distances, using CNG carrier ships, especially when

5808-584: The eyes of the consumers. Petronas , Malaysia's state-owned oil company, also monopolises the provision of CNG to road users. As of July 2008, Petronas only operates about 150 CNG refueling stations, most of which are concentrated in the Klang Valley. At the same time, another 50 were expected by the end of 2008. As fuel subsidies were gradually removed in Malaysia starting June 5, 2008, the subsequent 41 percent price hike on petrol and diesel fuel led to

5896-416: The high cost of the pressure vessels. Since then, there have been attempts at developing a commercially viable CNG carrier. Several competing CNG ocean transport designs have evolved. Each design proposes a unique approach to optimizing gas transport, while using as much off-the-shelf technology as possible, to keep costs competitive. Worldwide, there were 14.8 million natural gas vehicles (NGVs) by 2011, with

5984-496: The industry's steady growth, the cost of such fuel storage cylinders has been brought down to a much more acceptable level. Especially, for the CNG Type 1 and Type 2 cylinders , many countries are able to make reliable and cost effective cylinders for conversion need. CNG's energy density is the same as liquefied natural gas at 53.6 MJ/kg. Its volumetric energy density, 9 MJ/L, is 42 % of that of LNG (22 MJ/L) because it

6072-457: The infrastructure for pipelines or LNG is not in place. At short distances, undersea pipelines are often more cost-effective, and for longer distances, LNG is often more cost-effective. Compressed natural gas vehicles require a greater amount of space for fuel storage than conventional petrol-powered vehicles. Since it is a compressed gas, rather than a liquid like petrol, CNG takes up more space for each GGE ( petrol gallon equivalent ). However,

6160-457: The largest in the world with 46 refuelling hoses. The Union Group, which operates 1000 CNG Toyota Wish taxis then planned to introduce another three daughter stations and increase the CNG taxi fleet to 8000 units. As a key incentive for using this eco-friendly fuel Singapore has a green vehicle rebate for users of CNG technology. First introduced in January 2001, the GVR grants a 40 percent discount on

6248-766: The largest numbers in Iran (4.07 million), Pakistan (2.85 million), Argentina (2.07 million), Brazil (1.7 million) and India (1.1 million), with the Asia-Pacific region leading with 5.7 million NGVs, followed by Latin America with almost four million vehicles. Several car and vehicle manufacturers, such as Fiat , Opel / General Motors , Peugeot , Volkswagen , Toyota , Honda , Maruti Suzuki , Hyundai , Tata Motors , and others, sell bi-fuel cars.In 1995, The Supreme Court of India decided that cars put into circulation after 1995 would have to run on unleaded fuel. At

6336-404: The last CNG taxis were on its way to being scrapped in 2018. In Italy , there are more than 1173 CNG stations. The use of methane for vehicles, started in the 1930s and has continued off and on until today. Since 2008 there have been a large market expansion for natural gas vehicles (CNG and LPG) caused by the rise of petrol prices and by the need to reduce air pollution emissions. Before 1995

6424-506: The most sophisticated management systems available in the world of rubber tire transit (land-based non-rail public transit). Since the passage of the ADA, paratransit service has grown rapidly as a mode of public transit in the United States. Continued growth can be expected due to the aging of baby boomers and disabled Iraq War veterans. The growth of the number of people requiring paratransit has resulted in an increase in cost for

6512-504: The need for passengers to book a week in advance, and reduced the cost to the county from $ 81 to about $ 30. In 2016, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority began a pilot program which has subsidized paratransit passengers on Uber , Lyft , and Curb, up to a cap of $ 42 per ride. This retained the ability to book by phone, lowered the fare for riders, eliminated the need to book the trip

6600-433: The only mechanized mobility options for the poor in many parts of the developing world. Some paratransit systems have begun subsidizing private taxi or ride-hailing trips as an alternative to the government-run or government-contracted system. For example, in 2010, Solano County, California dissolved Solano Paratransit and allowed paratransit-eligible passengers to buy $ 100 worth of taxi scrip for $ 15. This eliminated

6688-853: The only way to have a CNG-powered car was by having it retrofitted with an after-market kit. A large producer was Landi Renzo , Tartarini Auto, Prins Autogassystemen, OMVL, BiGAs,... and AeB for electronic parts used by the most part of kit producer. Landi Renzo and Tartarini selling vehicles in Asia and South America. After 1995 bi-fuel cars (petrol/CNG) became available from several major manufacturers. Currently Fiat , Opel , Volkswagen , Citroën , Renault , Volvo and Mercedes sell various car models and small trucks that are petrol/CNG powered. Usually CNG parts used by major car manufacturers are actually produced by automotive aftermarket kit manufacturers, e.g. Fiat use Tartarini Auto components, Volkswagen use Teleflex GFI and Landi Renzo components. In Belgium , CNG

6776-534: The other hand, in developing countries, IPT often operates as an informal, cost-effective alternative to formal transportation modes. It tends to be unorganized and subject to minimal government regulation, serving as a prevalent form of spontaneous public transport that facilitates quick and convenient travel. The importance of IPT may extends beyond mobility, as it can also contribute to the economic well-being of those who operate these services. In some cases, drivers of vehicles such as tempos and autorickshaws can earn

6864-487: The paratransit industry to maintain these services. The results of this rising cost are the paratransit industry trying to get individuals to move from a reliance on paratransit vehicles to fixed-route vehicles. Due to the push to have paratransit vehicles being the main method of transportation for disabled individuals prior to the passing of the ADA, the paratransit industry is finding it hard to get individuals to switch over to fixed route transportation. Beginning in 2004,

6952-634: The part of regulatory authorities and mistrust between authorities and operators. In sub-Saharan Africa, this form of transport (called "transport artisanal" in French) serves more than 70% of commuters, evolved organically and replaced formal transit after independence. Paratransit can take many forms, from the 16-seater minibus taxis (see share taxi ), to motorbikes ( boda boda ). In the United Kingdom , services are called community transport and provided locally. The Community Transport Association

7040-420: The passage of the ADA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act was extended to include all activities of state and local government. Its provisions were not limited to programs receiving federal funds and applied to all public transit services, regardless of how the services were funded or managed. Title II of the ADA also more clearly defined a disabled person's right to equal participation in transit programs, and

7128-712: The pressure regulator. The National Fire Protection Association 's NFPA 52 code covers natural gas vehicle safety standards in the United States. Iran , Pakistan , Argentina , Brazil and China have the highest number of CNG run vehicles in the world. Natural gas vehicles are increasingly used in Iran, Pakistan, the Asia-Pacific region, the Indian capital of Delhi , and other large cities such as Ahmedabad , Mumbai , Pune , and Kolkata , as well as cities such as Lucknow , Kanpur , Varanasi , and others. Its use

7216-434: The primary component of natural gas, is a powerful, short-lived greenhouse gas. It is more than 100 times more potent at trapping energy than carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), the principal contributor to man-made climate change. Compressed natural gas is often confused with LNG ( liquefied natural gas ). Both are stored forms of natural gas. The main difference is that CNG is stored at ambient temperature and high pressure, while LNG

7304-569: The provider's responsibility to make that participation possible. In revisions to Title 49 Part 37, the Federal Transit Administration defined the combined requirements of the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act for transit providers. These requirements included "complementary" paratransit to destinations within 3/4 mile of all fixed routes (49 CFR 37.131) and submission of a plan for complying with complementary paratransit service regulations (49 CFR 37.135). Paratransit service

7392-509: The same year. In Portugal , there are 9 CNG refueling stations as of September 25, 2017. In Hungary , there are four public CNG refueling stations in the cities Budapest , Szeged , Pécs and Győr . The public transportation company of Szeged , Szolnok and some districts in Budapest runs buses mainly on CNG. In Bulgaria , there are 96 CNG refueling stations as of July 2011. One can be found in most of Bulgaria's big towns. In

7480-746: The service must be provided and managed. In the United States, paratransit service is now highly regulated and closely monitored for compliance with standards set by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). As the ADA came into effect in 1992 (49 CFR 37.135), the FTA required transit systems in the United States to plan and begin implementing ADA compliant services, with full implementation by 1997 (49 CFR 37.139). During this period, paratransit demand and services rapidly expanded. This growth led to many new approaches to manage and provide these services. Computerized reservation, scheduling and dispatching for paratransit have also evolved substantially and are now arguably among

7568-430: The term is rarely used in the rest of the world. The more general meaning includes any transit service operating alongside conventional fixed-route services, including airport limousines and carpools . Since the early 1980s, particularly in North America, the term began to be used increasingly to describe the second meaning: special transport services for people with disabilities. In this respect, paratransit has become

7656-618: The use of CNG was originally introduced for taxicabs and airport limousines during the late 1990s, when new taxis were launched with CNG engines while taxicab operators were encouraged to send in existing taxis for full engine conversions. The practice of using CNG remained largely confined to taxicabs predominately in the Klang Valley and Penang due to a lack of interest. No incentives were offered for those besides taxicab owners to use CNG engines, while government subsidies on petrol and diesel made conventional road vehicles cheaper to use in

7744-710: The western part of the country. Another station on the mainland is in Mandai Link to the north and is operated by SMART Energy. SMART also own a second station on Serangoon North Ave 5 which was set up end of March 2009; The fifth and largest station in the world, located in Toh Tuck, was opened by the UNION Group in September 2009. This station is recognized by the Guniness World Records as being

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