The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) have announced more than $12.8 million in grants to help five local transit authorities replace 19 aging diesel buses. The funding will improve the state’s transit systems and air quality by introducing cleaner, more efficient vehicles.
Improving Air Quality and Transit Services
The initiative aims to reduce vehicle emissions and bring cleaner technologies to public transit fleets. Replacing older diesel buses with electric, compressed natural gas (CNG), and diesel-electric hybrid models is expected to eliminate nearly two tons of air pollutants annually, helping counties meet federal air quality standards.
“It’s exciting to partner with ODOT to help Ohio communities modernize their transit systems, providing better service to their own residents while improving air quality in the state,” said Ohio EPA Director Anne Vogel.
“This grant program is a vital resource for public transit agencies, enabling them to modernize their fleets with cleaner, more efficient technologies as well as better support the travel demands of their riders,” said ODOT Director Pamela Boratyn.
Grant Recipients and Projects
The grants, funded by federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) dollars from the Federal Highway Administration, will support the following projects:
- Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA), Stark County
- Funding: $531,150
- Project: Replace one 2011 diesel-powered bus with one new CNG-powered bus (80% of costs covered).
- Western Reserve Transit Authority (WRTA), Mahoning County
- Funding: $1,848,023
- Project: Replace two 2014 diesel-powered buses with two new electric buses (75% of costs covered).
- Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA), Lucas County
- Funding: $2,876,400
- Project: Replace three 2008 diesel-powered buses with three new electric buses (80% of costs covered).
- Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA), Cuyahoga County
- Funding: $2,668,995
- Project: Replace five 2014 diesel-powered buses with five new CNG-powered buses (75% of costs covered).
- Southern Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA), Hamilton County
- Funding: $4,886,708
- Project: Replace eight 2013 diesel-powered buses with eight new diesel-electric hybrid buses (61% of costs covered).
A Cleaner Future for Ohio Transit
These upgrades will reduce harmful emissions and enhance the quality and reliability of transit services for riders. Ohio’s investment in cleaner technologies reflects its commitment to improving environmental and community health…