The U.S. Department of Transportation has just granted an impressive sum of money to fund almost 1,700 new buses! These environmentally friendly vehicles (nearly half of which produce zero carbon emissions) will be purchased by transit agencies and state and local governments.
This major funding comes from the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure bill, signed into law by President Biden. By prioritizing the widespread use of electric vehicles in schools and public transit, he aims to fight climate change and promote a greener future.
“Every day, millions of Americans climb aboard over 60,000 buses to get to work, to school, doctors’ appointments, everywhere they need to be,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a call with reporters. “These are unprecedented levels of investment when it comes to putting modern cleaner buses on the road.”
The U.S. government has invested a total of $3.3 billion in grants for buses and infrastructure, with plans to award an additional $5 billion in the next three years. This funding will improve public health by reducing diesel exhaust emissions and make maintenance easier.
There were 475 project proposals applying for the grants, totaling $8.7 billion in requests, highlighting the demand for this funding. Some of the grants will be used to purchase 30 electric battery buses and chargers in Seattle, convert a bus garage to electric in Washington D.C., and provide funding to Iowa City and the Seneca Nation in Western New York.
Source: Transport Topics
