Fort Worth School Buses Going Green

Fort Worth ISD's yellow school buses could soon be green. A federal grant will help the district buy hybrid buses that will get better gas mileage and have cleaner emissions.

Of the 30 new buses the district plans to add to the fleet within the next year, 25 could be hybrid buses.

Each bus will cost $146,000. That's $64,000 more than a normal bus. But the district plans to use a $1.6 million grant to make up the difference.

"Our current fleet averages about 7.2 miles per gallon in diesel fuel," said FWISD Director of Fleet Operations Mike Horsley. "These buses are expected to at the minimum give us 30 percent better fuel economy and 30 percent less emissions."

The school board must vote on the plan. If it is approved, the buses should be in the fleet in about six months.