Worcester Regional Transit Authority teams with Center for Transportation and the Environment to bring three zero---emission buses to Massachusetts
Worcester, MA - September 2012 - Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) has been awarded a Clean Fuels grant by the Federal Transit Administration.
The objective of the award is to replace three diesel transit buses with three zero-emission all-electric buses. This transit bus project presents an innovative approach to eliminating emissions and reducing energy consumption while displacing foreign sources of fuel with 100% domestic energy. With expertise in advanced vehicle technologies, the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) will assist WRTA with the installation of charging stations and deployment and operation of the all-electric buses.
The new buses will be Proterra's EcoRide BE-35 Fast Charge Battery Electric transit buses, which are purpose built for high efficiency electric drive performance. By deploying these zero emission all-electric buses, WRTA expects to reduce annual consumption of fossil fuels by more than 23,000 gallons, resulting in an estimated reduction of 53 tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year.
At an estimated cost of $4 per gallon for diesel fuel, the 12-year fuel savings on one bus will be approximately $490,000. WRTA is planning for electric vehicle technology in the design of its new maintenance and operations facility slated for completion in March 2013. The new facility will include advanced equipment to maintain and service WRTA's current fleet and also accommodate equipment for operating the all-electric transit buses. The project is funded by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) through the Clean Fuels Grant Program.
The program was developed to assist nonattainment and maintenance areas in achieving or maintaining the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone and carbon monoxide (CO). The program supports emerging clean fuel and advanced propulsion technologies for transit buses. The support of Representative Jim McGovern from Massachusetts' third Congressional district was instrumental in obtaining the grant.
"I am very pleased that the Department of Transportation is awarding this significant federal funding to WRTA," Rep. McGovern said. "With these new buses, WRTA will serve as a national model for clean transit. I commend WRTA and CTE for their strong commitment to clean transit technology and the Federal Transit Administration for funding this project. I look forward to seeing these buses on the streets of our community." WRTA will serve as a pioneer for this innovative clean technology by helping other transit agencies understand how these buses can benefit their communities.
CTE will manage the three-year project, which includes operational data collection and reporting, providing analytical information to other transit agencies, nationwide. WRTA's zero---emission buses will be a step toward energy security, air quality improvement, and a greener future for Worcester, the state of Massachusetts, and the U.S. transportation industry.
About CTE
The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization based in Atlanta, Georgia that facilitates programs to develop technologies and implement solutions for energy and environmental sustainability. Since its founding in 1993, CTE has managed a portfolio of more than $225 million in federal, state, and local cost---shared research, development, and demonstration projects involving more than 200 organizations in the advanced transportation technology field. CTE has facilitated and leveraged funding for its projects and initiatives from the U.S. Departments of Defense, Energy, Interior, and Transportation, as well as from the U.S. Army and NASA, among many others.
