Go Riteway Shows Off 'Green' Fleet at Oak Creek Facility

Go Riteway introduced not only a new identity at an open house Tuesday, but an eco-friendly fleet and a propane refueling station at its Oak Creek facility, 6970 S. 6th St.

Go Riteway Transportation Group is the new operating name of the Richfield, Wis.-based Riteway Bus Service after it acquired Go Airport Connection last fall.

Its vehicles include school buses, motorcoaches, limos and vans. The company provides shuttle services at Mitchell International Airport, but also for groups, corporate outings, athletic teams and training sessions.

Its location in Oak Creek is key because of the proximity to the airport and Interstate 94, said Ronald Bast, president and owner of Go Riteway Transportation Group.

But it was the "green" factor that Bast and others were most proud of Tuesday.

The company has converted 21 airport shuttle vans, or 40 percent of its fleet, to propane autogas. That number will grow to 25 - 50 percent - by the end of the year, Bast said.

Officials touted propane as better for the environment, more cost-effective in the long term and generated in the United States. It cuts greenhouse emissions by 24 percent, carbon monoxide emissions by 60 percent and isn't harmful to soils or water, according to a Go Riteway news release.

At the same time, vehicles get the same horsepower, torque and towing ratings as gas-powered cars.

Go Riteway will also see a reduction in its operating costs with the propane refueling station in Oak Creek. Having an on-site company-owned fueling station provides an even lower cost per gallon in fuel, officials said.

"Airport authorities across the country are looking for cleaner, lower-cost solutions for equipment operating on and around airport property," said Todd Mouw, a vice president at Roush CleanTech, which designed and manufactured the propane autogas fuel system used in Go Riteway's conversions.

"We applaud the efforts of Go Riteway to take a leadership role in Wisconsin, and to assist in helping Generall Mitchell International Airport to achieve their sustainability goals."

As more grant funding becomes available, companies and government units across the state are taking advantage of propane-powered vehicles, said Maria Redmond, biofuels sector specialist and grants administrator at the Wisconsin State Energy Office.

"A lot of the issue is that fleets like to see other fleets take advantage of it first before jumping in," she said. "So it is a great opportunity, like this one, to showcase what exactly the fuel is, what they’re going to do, the benefits of using it."