It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Special Transit's newest vehicle, a brightly colored hybrid that began zipping around Boulder and Longmont in mid November providing rides to older adults and people with disabilities. Wrapped in purple and teal, the 2009 Toyota Prius is the first of several gas-electric hybrids that the Boulder County nonprofit organization is adding to its fleet to make it more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly.

While Special Transit has tried biodiesel with limited success and has three compressed natural gas (CNG) vans, the issue of fuel efficiency came to the forefront in early 2008 when gas prices started to rise and several staff attended a conference about alternative fuels sponsored by the Governor's Biofuels Coalition.

"We are looking to improve the overall efficiency of vehicles in our fleet," said Rich Burns, director of operations for Special Transit. "That includes reducing the size of vehicles, using alternative fuels and lessening their impact on the environment," he said. Burns added that using a car for ambulatory passengers made sense, and a hybrid made even more sense.

Special Transit's fleet consists of 33 paratransit vehicles, all equipped with wheelchair lifts, with a carrying capacity of six to 17 passengers. The average gas mileage of these vehicles is eight miles per gallon (mpg) compared to 48 mpg for the hybrid. In 2007, Special Transit's fuel costs were more than $226,000; at the end of September, fuel costs were already 10 percent over budget for 2008.

The organization plans to add at least two other hybrids in late 2008 or early 2009. The first vehicle was funded entirely by Boulder County Aging Services. Partial funding for the next hybrid vehicle has been received from EnCana Oil and Gas Inc. Special Transit continues to seek support to cover the remaining costs.

Special Transit riders have responded positively to initial test drives with the hybrid. "Our clients have certainly been aware of the gas issue, and when they are the only rider on a large bus it's especially noticeable to them," Burns said. He added that riders will not be able to specifically request a ride in the hybrid but that it will be used in the schedule on a daily basis in both Boulder and in Longmont.

Special Transit is a private, nonprofit organization that provides transportation and mobility options to improve the quality of life for older adults, people with disabilities and very low-income individuals. Since 1979 the organization has provided more than two million passenger trips. For more information call (303) 447-2848 or go to www.specialtransit.org.