The US Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration have announced the allocation of $1.7 billion from President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to fund the acquisition of 1,700 buses in 46 states and territories. Over half of these buses will be zero-emission models, in an effort to combat climate change and modernize the nation’s transit fleet.
This new funding will bring the total number of zero-emission buses funded by the infrastructure law up to 1,800, which is more than double the current number of clean buses on the roads. While this still represents a fraction of the approximately 60,000 buses currently in operation in the US, it is seen as a significant step towards reducing emissions and updating transit systems across the country.
US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg emphasized the importance of these investments, stating that they will not only improve bus service and reliability, but also lower costs for local taxpayers. He highlighted the benefits of riding on cleaner buses, stating that it provides a better commute overall.
Each awardee will receive millions of dollars to fund the purchase of new buses, update garage facilities to install charging infrastructure, and retrain drivers and mechanics to support the maintenance and upkeep of these new vehicles. The funds will be distributed from the Federal Transit Administration’s Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities and Low- and No-Emission Vehicle programs, and will benefit both urban and rural communities, as well as Indian reservations.
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Several examples of the funding allocations include $104 million for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to convert its bus garage in Lorton, Virginia into an electric vehicle-supporting facility, $33.5 million for King County Metro Transit in Seattle, Washington to purchase approximately 30 battery-electric buses, and $23.3 million for Iowa City to replace four diesel buses with electric models.
In addition to the environmental benefits, the Biden administration highlights the economic development advantages of investing in clean buses. Buttigieg noted that all of the acquired buses will be manufactured in the US, contributing to job creation and workforce development. The funds will also be used to ensure that transit employees have the skills necessary to operate and maintain these new generation vehicles.
It’s worth noting that not all of the newly funded buses will be zero-emission. At least half of them will be powered by natural gas or “another fuel source that makes our air far less toxic,” according to Veronica Vanterpool, deputy administrator for the Federal Transit Administration. She explained that while zero-emission may not yet be feasible for some transit agencies, they still aim to replace their older diesel or gasoline buses with cleaner options.
With this announcement, there are now 3,300 new vehicles on the road in the US that are either zero-emission or powered by less polluting forms of fuel. However, transit agencies are still facing challenges in recovering ridership in the post-pandemic era. Changing commuter habits, staffing shortages, and declining revenue continue to affect transit systems nationwide, leading to concerns about a possible transit “death spiral.”
While cleaner buses are undoubtedly better for the environment and community health, there are critics who argue that the money would be better spent improving service rather than acquiring an expensive new fleet. They also point out that the production of these new buses is still a work in progress, citing the recent closure of a Nova Bus facility in upstate New York.
Despite these concerns, Secretary Buttigieg maintains that cleaner buses are essential for improving transit service and reliability. He believes that the historic funding being put into making public transit cleaner, safer, and more reliable is absolutely necessary for people’s daily lives.
In conclusion, the allocation of $1.7 billion from President Biden’s infrastructure law to acquire 1,700 buses, with over half being zero-emission models, is a significant step towards reducing emissions and modernizing the US transit fleet. The funding will not only support the purchase of new buses but also the necessary infrastructure and workforce development. While challenges remain, investing in cleaner buses is seen as a crucial aspect of improving transit service and combating climate change.
