Is CTTransit finally rolling out more Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles?

While walking to work this weekend, I noticed this Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle on a regular bus route in Hartford (as opposed to just being used as a free "Star Shuttle"). The next day, on a different route, I saw it being used. I'm hoping that perhaps there are more than one and CT Transit, feeling the hit of fuel prices (or realizing they need to get environmental savvy such as other municipalities) has finally started rolling out new fuel cell buses on regular routes.

Having buses ride by my house, and utilizing them recently, it'd be great if I didn't have to be as concerned about the environment and health impact of the diesel fumes. One of my few complaints about riding my bike around Hartford is having to inhale the exhaust of motor vehicles. In the last few decades, those of us in Hartford have been painfully aware of the poor air quality that has escalated asthma rates in the city, particularly among working class and low income families. The most effected of course are children. (For the record, my mother suffers from asthma and a good friend of ours has horrible asthma attacks when she visits us in Hartford!)

One of my big issues in the last few years has been that, knowing these environmental issues, and visiting other cities that have low-exhaust public transit vehicles, why hasn't more been then in CT cities with public transit to make them environmentally friendly? I'm hoping that this is a trend and we will see the entire -or at least majority - of the fleet converted to zero-emission fuel cell buses. I've ridden on the one used as a Star Shuttle once and it's awesome. Really quiet, clean and comfortable. Mind you, I've been enjoying riding the bus to work. I'd enjoy it even more if I didn't have to worry about breathing the diesel fumes.

Perhaps if more people, feeling the hit of the ridiculous gas prices began riding the public buses, there will be more of an incentive to push for the fuel cell vehicles. And I hate to cause an outcry from our suburban neighbors, but really, can we get them into the densely populated areas first? For a change, it would be nice to know that our health is more important than politics.