Metro Transit Goes Electric
Metro’s Electric Bus Program Set to Expand After Grant Is Awarded
Metro’s electric bus program received a big boost last month when we received a $4.1 million grant award from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to help expand the program launched in June 2021.
The funds will be put toward improvements that include new charging infrastructure at a new location and the purchase of several new electric buses to replace diesel buses that are exceeding their useful life and are scheduled to be retired.
Electric Bus Benefits for Riders:
Metro Transit is committed to implementing the latest in environmentally responsible, cost-effective electric bus technology to the MetroBus fleet. Here is the difference you will see when you ride:
- They are some of the quietest buses on the market.
- They offer the newest amenities and a smooth ride.
- They reduce greenhouse emissions up to 160 tons per year.
“Our initial electric bus fleet launch last June was one of the largest electric bus service deployments in the country,” said Taulby Roach, Bi-State Development President and CEO. “With this new funding from the Federal Transit Administration, we will be able to continue to expand our electrification program with additional electric buses and charging infrastructure improvements. Electric buses are better for the environment, support sustainability, and can deliver long-term cost savings for Metro Transit and taxpayers in the St. Louis region.”
A total of 18 battery electric buses went into service as part of the initial launch last year and another six new buses have been added to the MetroBus battery electric fleet in recent months.
Learn more about the electric bus program.
Metro is proud to play a big role in sustainability in our community.
Did you know that the biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions is transportation?
Choosing public transportation is one of the most effective actions individuals can take. It offers an immediate alternative for individuals seeking to reduce their energy use and carbon footprints. Here are a few of the amazing community benefits which public transit provides:
• CO2 reduction
By taking existing public transportation instead of driving a car, a single person saves 4,800 pounds of CO2 per year. To make progress in reducing our dependence on foreign oil and impacting climate change, public transportation must be part of the solution.
• Cleaner air
Improved air quality in a community means greater health benefits for the people who live there. That can mean fewer cases of respiratory ailments such as asthma and even cancer. People are also more prone to get out and exercise when the air quality is better.
• Reduced pollution
We usually think of gas as the only pollutant when it comes to cars, but they also use antifreeze and other fluids that are bad for the environment. Taking sustainable transportation instead of driving cuts down on all of them.
• Concrete reduction
More cars mean more roads need to be built, which causes water run-off that contributes to ground and water pollution. Fewer cars in favor of active transportation such as bikes mean more bike paths and lanes which are more sustainable.
• Less noise
We rarely think of noise pollution when it comes to cars, that is unless you live by a busy street. Less driving will make your neighborhood quieter to everyone’s benefit.
Hope to see you soon on Metro, and here’s to a more sustainable future for the St. Louis region!
