The next ride you take may be on a diesel-electric hybrid bus. The San Mateo County Transit District won a $4.9 million federal grant to modernize its fleet, according to Rep. Anna Eshoo D-Menlo Park.

The money will be used for a fleet of new hybrid buses that reduces "harmful greenhouse gas emissions, keeps costs down, and helps grow our local economy," said Ms. Eshoo, who sought the grant for the district.

The grant "will go a long way toward keeping the SamTrans bus system a viable transportation option," she announced Thursday (July 19).

SamTrans expects the grant to contribute to local employment, thanks to hybrid bus manufacturers in the Bay Area, she said.

Although hybrid buses costs more than conventional vehicles, there are benefits. Better fuel efficiency, longer brake life, and lower maintenance costs can save several hundred thousand dollars a year, according to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, which has used hybrids since 2010.

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