The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), has announced that it has awarded nearly $55 million to several projects that are aimed at putting more green buses into service across the country. The FTA has chosen 10 projects out of the 50 it has received, that it will fund through the Low or No Emission Vehicle Deployment Program.
This initiative will help finance deployment of fuel cell, hybrid, and electric buses, in California, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Ohio, Texas, and Pennsylvania. It was announced by FTA Senior Advisor Carolyn Flowers, accompanied by J. Barry Barker, Transit Authority of River City (TARC) Executive Director, at a press conference in Louisville, Kentucky.
“As the nation’s population and transit ridership continue to rise, we must invest in innovative technologies that will help transit agencies like TARC expand their bus fleets and bring a new generation of energy-efficient buses to Louisville and cities and towns nationwide,” Flowers said. “These grant awards will also help create new jobs and support a growing industry of domestic manufacturers who are developing advanced technologies to power public transportation for the future.”
TARC will receive a $3.3 million grant to buy five battery-electric buses built by Proterra, one of the leading manufacturers of zero-emission buses. In addition to that, TARC will use the money to install an EV charging station, as well.
Another project that was selected by the FTA is the one proposed by the Sunline Transit Agency, that services the Coachella Valley area in Southern California, receiving nearly $10 million to purchase five hydrogen electric hybrid fuel cell buses, that will be built by Ballard Power Systems. Currently, Sunline Transit owns five fuel cell buses, which means the FTA’s grant will help double its fleet of zero-emission buses.
Furthermore, the FTA awarded $2.6 million to the Red Rose Transit Authority (RRTA) in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, which will use the money to buy 17 plug-in hybrid buses, replacing the diesel buses that it currently uses. They will be manufactured by BAE Systems and Gillig.
The Dallas Area Rapid Transit Authority (DART) will buy seven all-electric buses built by Proterra, with the $7.6 million that it has received from the FTA. The Low or No Emission Vehicle Deployment Program will increase the electric bus fleet in Boston, as well, providing $4.1 million to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to purchase five 60-foot articulated all-electric buses, built by Canadian manufacturer New Flyer.
With this $55-million grant, the FTA hopes to reduce the number of high-polluting buses across the country, improve air quality, and help reduce the country’s dependence on foreign oil.