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40th Annual Downtown
Denver Awards Recognizes Regional Transportation District’s
Leadership
February 19, 2001
For Release: February 19, 2001
Contact: Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications
Phone: 734-667-2090
Cell: 248-705-2214
scottlorenz@westwindcos.com
TransTeq’s EcoMark Hybrid Electric BRT Bus Cited For Its Unique
Contribution to the Vibrancy of Denver
40th Annual Downtown Denver Awards Recognizes Regional
Transportation District’s Leadership
Denver – Since its inception in 1962 when 85 people set out to
encourage and honor the projects that were improving Downtown
Denver, the Annual Downtown Denver Awards Dinner has recognized
creative contributions to the vibrancy and uniqueness of the
center city. At the 2001 Awards Dinner, a black tie affair
attended by 950 people, the fuel efficient, low emission fleet
of TransTeq’s EcoMark hybrid electric buses and a new light rail
line helped Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD)
garner a 2001 Downtown Denver Award.
The EcoMark was cited for its role in providing passenger ease
and convenience with minimal pollution and improved fuel
economy. The EcoMark has helped complete the transformation of
the renowned downtown 16th Street Mall from a depressed inner
city area to a thriving destination that has become Denver’s
number one tourist attraction. The route through the 16th Street
Mall, which now carries 55,000 passengers daily, is the backbone
of the RTD system and serves to connect light rail lines and bus
terminals with downtown Denver.
The 16th Street Mall was an idea championed by Denver’s leaders
in 1982, including then-Mayor Frederico Pena, for both economic
and transportation reasons. The 16th Street Mall itself won the
award winner in 1983, described then as “a tribute to their
vision, patience and commitment to the strengthened economic
vitality of their center city.”
“We are pleased to be a part of a positive contribution to
Denver downtown,“ said Paul Szilagyi, CEO of Transportation
Techniques, LCC (TransTeq). “While we have been proud to host
visitors from around the world who have come to see the EcoMark
in operation, we are especially pleased to see RTD’s leadership
receive such a prestigious honor from those that it serves,”
added Szilagyi. “We would like to thank the RTD Board, its
Chair, Mary Blue and its GM, Cal Marsella for the opportunity to
provide Denver with our clean hybrid electric technology while
creating good paying manufacturing jobs for its citizens.”
The EcoMark was designed to provide superior solutions to the
common challenges of reducing congestion, improving fuel economy
and lowering emissions. It was also designed to enhance the
experience of riders on one of the original Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
routes in the nation. The EcoMark uses its breakthrough hybrid
electric technology to carry 116 passengers with lower emissions
than a car. The EcoMark uses a 70 HP engine fueled by clean
compressed natural gas (CNG) and energy captured during braking
to create the energy to propel the vehicle. The result is a
superior environment for downtown residents, workers and
visitors to the 16th Street Mall.
BRT, or Bus Rapid Transit, is an emerging transit design whereby
advanced technology-equipped buses provide a cost-effective,
environmentally friendly and upgraded transit service. BRT is
viewed by many as a third way combining the best qualities of
bus and light rail. Key characteristics of BRT systems include
attractive, rail-like vehicles, exclusive rights-of-way,
attractive infrastructure, streamlined fare collection and fast
dwell times. The Federal Transit Administration has formed a BRT
Consortium including 17 cities throughout the U.S. to develop
and implement BRT.
TransTeq President Dale Hill, whose own background includes
heavy duty trailer and railcar design and manufacturing in
addition to advanced technology transit vehicles such as the
EcoMark, is working with the FTA, CALSTART, transit authorities
and others on advanced BRT design. “We know that most cities can
benefit by providing clean, low-cost BRT services to their
riders; we look forward to our role in providing others the same
economic, environmental and transportation benefits now being
enjoyed by Denver,” said Hill.
Denver-based TransTeq is an entrepreneurial company that
designs, develops and manufactures advanced technology,
environmentally superior, hybrid electric vehicles and is
currently in its third round of funding. For additional
information visit:
http://www.transteq.com/index.asp.
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