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from the issue of November 17, 2005
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UNL's transportation fleet just got a little bit cooler
BY KELLY BARTLING, UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
Joining the regular "state car" lineup of Tauruses, Stratuses, Impalas, Chevy, Ford and Dodge cargo vans and pickups are 10 new hip-looking retro Chrysler PT Cruisers.
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| | | HUSKER CRUISIN' - Earl Sinkler, mechanic for Transportation Services, applies a University of Nebraska-Lincoln decal onto the door of a new PT Cruiser. The vehicles are phasing out some aged utility vans. Photo by Kelly Bartling/University Communications.
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Price and functionality are behind the PT Cruiser buy - not necessarily a UNL effort to add some "cool factor" to its fleet.
"No, we're not buying them because they're a fun-looking vehicle," said Patrick Barrett, UNL transportation services director. "The maintenance department wanted something smaller to get around campus, as opposed to the bigger utility vans, that would get around when it's slippery on ice or snow, use less fuel, that can haul items that are temperature-sensitive and transport more than just two people to a job site."
Barrett got a good price on the PT Cruisers, which replace some aged utility vans. He also is banking on the Cruisers keeping a higher resale value than regular vans.
Four white or "vanilla" Cruisers, three silver and three red are joining the fleet. After getting their UNL nameplate affixed to the side like other fleet vehicles, they're also being decked out with a four-inch "N" decal on the rear passenger windows.
Barrett said he drove a Cruiser to a recent gathering of fleet car managers in Omaha, and received a lot of questions and positive reaction from organizations interested in the idea of substituting the cruisers for cargo vans.
As for "high fives" or "thumbs-up" from motorists on the Interstate drive down there, he said no one seemed to notice.
GO TO: ISSUE OF NOVEMBER 17
NEWS HEADLINES FOR NOVEMBER 17
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Benefits increase slightly
Peace Corps numbers remain strong at UNL
Drought research draws $7.4 million
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Grant launches statewide organic farming research effort
NU Directions hailed as a model program
Research strives for nicotine vaccine
UNL's transportation fleet just got a little bit cooler
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