For the third year in a row, Lawrence Transit has been awarded funds from the Federal Transit Administration through their competitive “Low- or No-Emission” grant program. The program finances the purchase or lease of zero-emission and low-emission transit buses and supporting facilities, such as charging infrastructure.

This grant provides $3,279,655 to buy two long-range battery electric buses and two low-floor battery electric cutaway buses to replace diesel buses that have exceeded their useful life. Local match for this grant is $1,164,704, which is already budgeted as part of the City’s fleet replacement and sustainability goals. The four new buses will reduce direct carbon emissions by 146 tons annually and move Lawrence Transit closer to its goal of running an entirely zero-emission fleet by 2035.

The addition of these new buses will propel Lawrence Transit to almost the halfway mark of converting its fixed-route fleet from diesel or gas to electric. This grant will bring the total of electric buses in the city’s fleet to 11 by 2024.

“FTA continues to recognize the commitment and compelling story of the City’s sustainability goals,” said Adam Weigel, Transit & Parking Manager. “I’m proud of our staff and community for leaning in to this effort so fully, as it will pay off in a big way for this community in noise and pollution reduction. Electric buses are an important piece of building an equitable and modern transit system to be a leader in the Midwest.”

The two previous grant awards were for $3,765,000 in 2020 and $1,815,750 in 2021. The five buses from the 2020 award will enter service this fall, and buses from the 2021 award are expected to enter service next summer.

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