The state Department of Transportation is continuing efforts to convert its bus fleet to electric following a large grant from the federal government, state officials said.
The CT DOT announced this week it received an $11.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration to purchase 22 new battery electric public transportation buses to replace the existing diesel-operated buses. The new buses are expected to be delivered within the next 18 months, state officials said.
The state already has 10 electric buses for the transit system, state officials said, two of which are in testing. The first electric buses for the state’s public transportation system went on the road in 2020.
State officials said transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the state, and Gov. Ned Lamont signed an executive order in December directing all state agencies to take steps toward reducing carbon emissions. Via the executive order, the state DOT is no longer allowed to purchase diesel buses after 2023 and the entire bus fleet must be electric by 2035.
The grant for CT is one of 70 projects in 39 states funded by the FTA.
