Facing Fuel Volatility and Rising Costs, Transit Agencies Turn to Propane Autogas at APTA TRANSform & EXPO

CHICAGO (Oct. 6, 2026) — As transit agencies face rising fuel prices and tight budgets, transportation leaders gathered this week at APTA TRANSform & EXPO to explore practical, lower-carbon energy solutions for their fleets. Faced with volatile gasoline prices as well as expensive infrastructure demands and delays associated with electric and traditional fuels, transit and paratransit operators are turning to propane autogas as an immediately available path toward reliable, cost-effective mobility.

The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) will be on-site at the AAPA Annual Convention in New Orleans, La., Sept. 28-30 to highlight how port operators can lower costs today while supporting equipment modernization.

At the conference, the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) is highlighting how propane autogas helps fleets lower costs today while maintaining continuous operations:

• Predictable Fuel Costs: Thanks to an abundant domestic supply, propane autogas prices remain stable and significantly lower than gasoline and diesel. Agencies can secure multi-year fuel contracts to protect core rider services and support long-term planning.
• Lower Infrastructure Costs: On-site propane autogas fueling infrastructure is significantly more affordable and faster to deploy than conventional fuel systems and electric infrastructure, often for low or no cost to operators. Because the EPA classifies propane as a non-contaminant, infrastructure placement is comparatively simple and scalable, with existing maintenance facilities rarely requiring upgrades.
• Reliable Performance: Fleets can return to base and refuel in minutes without charging delays or grid constraints, and count on reliable performance in all weather conditions to deliver dependable demand-response and fixed-route service.
• Immediate Clean Air Impact: Near-zero emissions propane autogas technology brings fleets closer to zero-emission goals without electric grid dependencies, significantly reducing NOx and greenhouse gases to improve air quality for drivers and riders.

“Transit agencies prioritize reliable, accessible service above all else,” said Joel Stutheit, senior manager of autogas business development at PERC. “Whether supporting paratransit or demand-response services, propane autogas delivers dependable daily performance, fast refueling, and budget control without grid constraints.”

Real-world transit fleets are already proving these savings:

• Kitsap Transit in Washington saves more than $600,000 annually across more than 70 paratransit shuttles while transitioning its paratransit fleet to 100% renewable propane autogas.
• In Michigan, Allegan County Transportation reduced refueling costs, saving $10,000 monthly and helping meet a 60% surge in demand and expand rural transit service.
• Broward County Transportation Department has saved more than $13 million in fuel costs alone since adopting propane autogas in 2015, securing a stable rate of $1.45 per gallon compared to a local gasoline average of over $4.00.

“At a time when gasoline and diesel prices have gone $1.50 per gallon over budget, propane autogas has only gone above baseline by 25 cents,” said Dennis Griffey, vehicle and facilities maintenance director at Kitsap Transit in Washington. “That level of price stability gives us greater budget certainty and ensures we can keep routes running for the people who rely on them most.”

Attendees at APTA TRANSform & EXPO are encouraged to learn how propane autogas can reduce operating costs and support dependable mobility across paratransit, shuttle, and connector services. To learn more, visit propane.com/paratransit.

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About PERC: The Propane Education & Research Council is a nonprofit that provides leading propane safety and training programs and invests in research and development of new propane-powered technologies. PERC is operated and funded by the propane industry. For more information, visit Propane.com.