The Hermann Express bus waits for passengers on 3rd North in downtown last summer. During Wednesday’s New Ulm Transportation Commission Meeting it was announced Hermann Express was awarded a grant for two new propane-powered buses.

NEW ULM – The New Ulm Transportation Advisory Committee met Wednesday and provided an update on the Herman Express and Heartland Express buses.

Transportation Advisory Committee Chair and Brown County Heartland Express Operations Director Pat LaCourse said the committee was awarded a new low or no emissions grant. It will allow the committee to acquire two propane buses and the infrastructure needed for buses at no cost for Hermann Express.

Last year, the committee considered purchasing two electric buses using the same grant, however after running tests on the electric buses, it was discovered the vehicles would not have enough power to make the Hermann Express route during the winter. This forced the committee to look into a propane bus option.

LaCourse said the propane-powered buses would meet low emission requirements. In addition, it burn cleaner than gasoline and is a lower cost option.

The grant will allow for the purchase of two propane buses and the necessary infrastructure, however the committee needs to decide where the bus infrastructure will be located. Originally, the committee intended to place the infrastructure for the electric buses at the Elixir building located at 2100 N. Broadway but the committee was not sure if propane infrastructure would fit in this location. It was also suggested the infrastructure be relocated to the Brown County Highway Department.

The infrastructure for the propane-buses would include a large propane tank. It is believed both sites had room for the tank.

LaCourse said a formal decision needed on the infrastructure site was needed by February. The committee would bring the issue to the Brown County Board meeting before the end of January.

Sarah Berg, lead driver for Hermann Express gave an update on installing a bus stop bench at Emerson Union.

Rider requested a bench at the location. Berg said Hermann Express sought funding from the Optimist Club this year, but was unable to confirm the details on the bench before the Optimist Club’s September deadline.

Initially the plan was to install the bench on Emerson Union property, but city staff cannot install public infrastructure on private property.

City Engineer Joseph Stadheim said for the city to place the bench an easement was needed. If the bench were placed in the city right-of-way, staff could install it without an easement, but if the bench was placed on private property, a private contractor would need to place it.

Berg said Emerson Union was not sure where best to place the bench. It was decided to wait and submit an application to the Optimist Club before working out the details.

Berg also provided monthly ridership numbers for Herman Express since June. Ridership peaked in October with 707 rides. Overall, Hermann Express is up 1,054 rides in 2025 compared to 2024.

The next Transportation Advisory Commission is Wednesday, June 10.