PRT may get 7 used UTA buses free

In the next month or so, cash-strapped Pocatello Regional Transit may be able to add seven old Utah Transit Authority buses to its fleet free of charge.

The 30-foot 2005 model buses would replace seven of PRT’s existing 1998 model buses.

Pocatello City Council approved the acquisition of the buses Thursday night.

If all goes as planned, PRT said the new buses would last another three to five years.

“They’re used buses. They’re not perfect. There’ll be some maintenance that we’ll need to do on these buses, but it does take a lot of pressure off of us as our fleet is aging and these are a good fit for us,” said Dave Hunt, director of PRT.

PRT has been in talks with the Utah Transit Authority for the last two years about acquiring these buses.

Hunt said they would have sold for more than $200,000.