A leading expert in sustainable public transportation is pushing back against concerns about compressed natural gas (CNG) buses following Thursday's catastrophic crash in Calgary that killed three people and injured more than a dozen others.
The collision—which saw a transit bus strike multiple vehicles before rear-ending a stationary bus and triggering an explosion—has renewed questions about the safety of alternative-fuel transit systems. But researchers say the technology itself remains fundamentally sound.
What the Data Shows
Josipa Petrunic, president and CEO of the Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC), a national non-profit focused on low-carbon transit innovation, stressed that CNG buses are "considered extremely safe technology" and have operated reliably across Canada for more than two decades.
"We all need to find out what happened to create an unsafe environment in a crash situation," Petrunic said, emphasizing that the technology's safety record remains strong.
According to CUTRIC data, approximately 958 CNG-powered buses are currently operating across Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia. Calgary Transit operates nearly 250 CNG buses—representing roughly 20 per cent of its fleet—with plans to purchase approximately 150 additional units this year to replace diesel-powered vehicles.
Built-In Safety Features
CNG buses incorporate multiple heavy-duty safety mechanisms designed to prevent failures even in high-impact scenarios. These include advanced leakage management systems, fire-suppression technologies, and reinforced fuel tanks engineered to withstand severe collisions.
Petrunic noted that the most vulnerable aspect of any public transit vehicle—including CNG buses—is the lack of passenger seatbelts, which remains an ongoing industry challenge across North America.
"It's considered extremely safe technology, so we all need to find out what happened to create an unsafe environment in a crash situation."
Manufacturer Response
Nova Bus, the manufacturer of the stationary bus involved in Thursday's explosion, confirmed it is working closely with Calgary Transit and authorities to investigate the incident. The company emphasized that it would be "premature to speculate on the cause before a thorough investigation has been completed."
"Safety remains Nova Bus's highest priority, and we are offering our full cooperation to Calgary Transit and the relevant authorities as they work to establish the facts," a company spokesperson stated.
Rigorous Certification Process
All buses procured by Calgary Transit undergo Altoona testing—a rigorous North American certification process that evaluates durability, reliability, and performance before deployment. This multi-stage assessment has become an industry standard for validating new bus models.
One Calgary police officer was hospitalized after rushing toward the burning bus as the fire erupted, demonstrating the heroic response of emergency personnel during the incident.
As investigators continue their examination of Thursday's crash, transportation experts remain confident in the safety profile of compressed natural gas technology for public transit, while acknowledging that any fatal incident warrants thorough analysis to prevent future tragedies.
This story is based on reporting from the Lethbridge Herald. Read the original article here.