Rep. McNally announces $1,848,023 for electric-powered bus purchases

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) today announced that the Western Reserve Transit Authority was awarded a $1,848,023 grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s and the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Diesel Emission Reduction Grant program.

“Transit programs are vital to our communities, and so is the air we breathe,” said Rep. McNally. “I’m thankful for the replacement of these decade-old buses.”

The Diesel Emission Reduction Grant program draws funding from the Congestion, Mitigation, and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program that gives federal aid to areas struggling to meet the congestion and air quality requirements of the Clean Air Act. This money is awarded to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) from the Federal Highway Administration. ODOT has partnered with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to present more than $12.8 million to five local transit authorities for the replacement of 19 old diesel transit buses. Diesel fuels release numerous harmful emissions when burned, and the Ohio EPA projects that nearly two tons of air pollution will be removed annually due to these grants. 

With this grant, the Western Reserve Transit Authority (WRTA) received funding to cover 75% of the cost of replacing two diesel-powered buses from 2014 with two brand-new electric-powered transit buses. This modernization will support the demands of Mahoning County riders who will have access to more efficient technologies and greener vehicles. These new buses will have lower operating costs in the long run, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and offer more stable fares than gasoline-powered vehicles.

These buses support WRTA’s mission to create a more sustainable public transit system. WRTA will also receive $32.6 million from federal infrastructure laws to implement more zero-admission buses, charging stations, and shelters for riders throughout Mahoning County.