Metro to test its bus emissions, cost effectiveness

Metro will team with West Virginia University to settle once and for all which of its bus types, compressed natural gas, clean diesel or hybrid, runs cleaner and is more cost effective.

The $200,000 study, which the Metro board is expected to approve Thursday, will be funded entirely by the East Coast Hybrid Consortium, a coalition of transit-oriented groups interested in alternative fuel technologies. If Metro decides to expand the contract into future years, it will have to come up with the money itself.