RIPON – In the next two years, the City of Ripon’s transit system could feature two environmentally friendly yet fuel-efficient short-range buses.

Thanks to an $860,000 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant, the first of two 35-foot buses with perimeter seating to accommodate 29 passengers is scheduled to make its debut at some point this year.

The second one is planned for 2014 or, according to city engineer Kevin Werner, “whenever demand requires.”

Both buses will run on compressed natural gas.

Cost also includes three years of operating expenses.

No discussion was necessary as elected leaders unanimously agreed to sign off on the purchase of the buses from Gillig LLC via Stark Area Regional Transit Authority at last week’s Ripon City Council meeting.

Council initially accepted the Ripon Short Range Transit Plan in January 2011. With it was the recommendation of two buses, with one to be purchased now – fully funded by the CMAQ grant – and the other in 2014 or perhaps sooner, based on demand.

Werner said the purchase was “piggybacked” onto the competitive bus procurement conducted in 2010 by SARTA, the transit agency servicing Stark County, Ohio.

Gillig, in addition, had been awarded the contract during this process.