Metro transit company receives federal grant to help in purchase of electric buses

The grant from the Federal Transit Administration was one of 130 totaling $1.7 billion that were handed out to transit systems across the country. The money is authorized by the infrastructure law passed in 2021 and will help transit agencies buy 1,700 buses — nearly half of which will have zero emissions, federal officials said in a statement. Metro has set a goal of converting to a zero-emission fleet by 2042. Transit leaders said the grant will help to propel Metro toward that goal.The grant “from the FTA is a testament to the importance of the federal government and regional partners joining together to support the transition to zero-emission buses that will help create a healthier, better environment,” Metro General Manager Randy Clarke said in a statement. Metro is partnering with Fairfax County on the conversion of the Cinder Bed Road bus facility. The county plans to use part of the complex to house and charge its all-electric bus rapid transit vehicles that will run from Fort Belvoir to the Huntington Metro station by 2030, Metro officials said.https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2023/06/26/metro-electric-buses-dc-fairfax/?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_source=twitter