FNN Article Friday, February 20, 2026. Image 1 – Ribbon Cutting. Image 2 – Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation Mike Carroll address the crowd during the unveiling event. (Click on images to enlarge).
BRADFORD COUNTY, PA – BeST Transit unveiled their new buses on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at Greens Landing in Athens Township. The new buses will be running on propane a much cleaner fuel. than gasoline. These buses are also equipped with improved cell phone service through AT&T FirstNet which provides drivers with 99% coverage through Bradford, Sullivan, and Tioga Counties.
These improvements lead to better communications which means safer, more reliable transportation for everyone.
The event held on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, had members of BeST Transit, a number of dignitaries and large number of local residents that were on hand for the unveiling of a few BeST Transit buses that will now be running on propane autogas. The unveiling took place during a luncheon at the organization’s facility located on Route 220 in Greens Landing.
BeST Executive Director Mark Hamilton, is said to have spearheaded the initiative, which is expected to save BeST between $10,000 and $15,000 per vehicle per year in operating costs. Hamilton stated at the gathering that a grant of $300,000 from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is being used to convert 10 of BeST’s vehicles to propane.
Image 1 shows – BeST Executive Director Mark Hamilton speaking. Image 2 shows – Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation Mike Carroll also speaks to the crowd. (Click on images to enlarge).
Hamilton also noted that under Phase One of the project, 17 vehicles, or about 25% of BeST’s fleet, will be running on propane. Presently there are six 2025 Ford E450 buses that have been outfitted to operate using propane autogas, which officials claim is a clean fuel that is abundant in Pennsylvania. Four (4) more E450 buses are currently being converted. Also an additional seven (7) 2026 Ford Transit 350HPs are on order to be used for shared ride programs. The 350HP is dual-fuel powered, using either propane or gasoline.
Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation Mike Carroll was in attendance at the event and he was pleased about the group’s leadership for their commitment to the propane project. Carroll also stated he was delighted to join partners to celebrate PennDOT and local investments to make propane fueling possible at BEST Transit.
“My motto, and the governor’s motto, has always been ‘Every county, every community, every time. PennDOT works closely with transport providers like BeST to meet the transportation needs of people in every one of our 67 counties,” Mike Carroll stated while addressing the crowd at the event.
The secretary also pointed out that statistics show 57% of regional BeST fixed-route riders have no alternative transportation options.
He even spoke about the PennDOT contribution that was provided to support a project that was conceived and initiated by BeST, and he stated that the project was not part of a statewide initiative.
The buses are being outfitted with propane gas systems by Roush Cleantech, a subsidiary of Michigan-based Roush Enterprises.
Randy Veenhoven, executive director of transit at Roush Cleantech, said BeST’s propane-powered buses will join more than 7,000 propane transit buses in use across North America.
Veenhoven explained that propane autogas is a nontoxic, non-carcinogenic and non-corrosive fuel classified as a non-contaminant by the Environmental Protection Agency, adding that emissions from diesel vehicles are about 15 to 19 times higher than with propane. (Therefore cleaner for the environment).
Commercial operations have been taking notice of potential savings through the use of propane, he continued It was stated that not only are transit buses using propane, but now school districts are even increasinging the number of school buses that are using propane.
Veenhoven said propane is mostly used commercially because operations like public transportation or school districts can build fueling stations on their property that allow daily fueling of vehicles. As part of the Phase One portion of BeST’s propane project, fueling stations were constructed at the Athens Township and at the Mansfield facilities.
According to Mark Hamilton, these stations were installed by FerrellGas at no upfront cost, however, they required a 3-year contract that included heightened propane costs to cover the expense. But even with the extra cost BeST will save money on fuel expenses, and Hamilton expects further savings after the initial contract expires.
BeST Transit stated that propane costs about 40% less than gasoline, and the transportation authority is expecting an average savings of $0.25 to $0.45 per mile. (Which adds up quickly).
Best also stated that due to the fuel’s clean operation, maintenance service and costs will significantly be reduced
Image 1 – Poster board of information. Image 2 shows Tioga County PA Commissioners.
