Cutting the District government’s fleet by 150 vehicles within 90 days, as demanded by Mayor Adrian Fenty, will have to wait as D.C. recently contracted with a Virginia dealership to purchase 15 new pick-up trucks.
Fenty’s 100 Days and Beyond blueprint pledged the vehicle cutback to reduce costs and improve air quality. But the Department of Public Works, which maintains the District’s 3,000-vehicle fleet, recently struck a $343,710 deal with Alexandria’s Ourisman Dodge for new 4×4 trucks, which will be used to haul trash in the warmer months, or to plow snow and spread salt during winter storms.
Linda Grant, DPW spokeswoman, said the $23,000 trucks are to be purchased under the vehicle replacement program, which aims to substitute older, less fuel efficient vehicles with trucks running on alternative fuel technology. The new vehicles, Grant said, will run on 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gas.
Meanwhile, she said, a strategy to meet the 150-vehicle reduction goal is still under discussion.
