Board hears bus rust report; town engineer estimates $260,000 to pave bus yard

The Newington Board of Education on Jan. 15 received a presentation from transportation staff and mechanics detailing accelerated corrosion and component failures on district buses that staff link to long-term parking on a gravel lot.

The presentation, delivered by district transportation staff and mechanic Austin Muir, showed photos of rust and decay under several buses, cited repair costs for specific components and described operational and safety impacts. Town engineering shared a preliminary estimate of roughly $260,000 to pave the yard, install an oil-separator system and relocate some power infrastructure; staff said the estimate includes a 25% contingency and that the town is targeting work as early as this summer.

Board members and staff said the gravel parking area has contributed to corrosion on fuel- and transmission-related components, driver steps and exhaust hangers. Mechanic Austin Muir said examples include a $1,400 transmission-line replacement, a roughly $6,000 fuel-tank replacement and a $900 driver-step replacement; other repairs shown included clogged hangers, tailpipe and exhaust repairs and air-conditioning line failures on minibuses…