Posted on 02/28/24
| News Source: FOX45
The Maryland Transit Administration launched seven new zero-emission buses to the agency’s bus fleet.
“Today is truly a historic day for Maryland. In the public transportation agency, these seven buses represent a start of a program that puts your state on the road to cleaner transportation that will benefit Baltimore,” said Terry Garcia Crews, a FTA Regional Administrator.
The new buses are part of a pilot program to inform the agency’s transition to a zero-emission fleet which will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality for Maryland residents. Secretary Wiedefeld said that eventually there will be 800 zero-emission buses in the fleet.
Garcia Crews, speaking on behalf of U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and Acting FTA Administrator Veronica Vanderpool, said that they have a goal to establish 50% of fleet transitioning to zero emissions by 2030. She also said that MTA will remove 500 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions between 2025 and 2030.
Governor Wes Moore said the buses are the beginning of increasing Maryland’s electric fleet.
“They’re an important start of where we are going and they are an important start for our dedication, our commitment to be able to build out a larger electric fleet in the state of Maryland,” he said.
Secretary Serena McIlwain of the Maryland Department of the Environment said there is a goal to transition all transit buses in Maryland to electric vehicles by 2031. She emphasized how the seven new zero-emission buses will contribute to reducing emissions and pollution in Maryland.