Lane Transit District won a grant of nearly $3.5 million to purchase five zero-emission electric buses. Oregon Congressman Peter DeFazio announced the Department of Transportation funding on Thursday.
LTD Spokesman Edward McGlone says the agency has 29 older diesel vehicles that are at the end of their useful life.
McGlone: “And in order to replace them federal funding is absolutely necessary. We had used a previous federal grant to secure 5 all-electric buses previously. Those are set to be delivered this fall. This grant will give LTD the ability to add 5 more electric buses for a grand total of 10 buses out of a fleet of 110 vehicles.”
McGlone says replacing the diesel buses will reduce carbon emissions by 400 metric tons each year. Congressman DeFazio is the top Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. He led efforts to secure the FAST Act, which provides funding for transit agencies to transition to low and no emissions vehicles.