GPMTD to Receive Two New Battery-Electric Zero-Emission Paratransit Vehicles
Governor J.B. Pritzker recently announced the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) was awarded a total of $24.9 million in two grants from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for new zero-emission battery-electric paratransit vehicles and paratransit vehicle replacement. The funding awarded to IDOT was supported in part by $1 million Fiscal Year 2023 Congressional-Directed spending from U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth. With 12.3 million of this funding from the FTA’s Low or No Emission Vehicle Program, 50 vehicles and the accompanying charging equipment will go to 24 participating transit agencies throughout the state. The Greater Peoria Mass Transit District (GPMTD) is set to receive two zero-emission battery-electric ADA-accessible paratransit vehicles and charging equipment to be used for future expansion of its transportation services.
“The future of our fleet is to transition from diesel-powered vehicles to low-emission and electric vehicles. The two new zero-emission paratransit vehicles we will receive from the funding awarded to IDOT will move us forward with providing the Greater Peoria area with more sustainable public transportation options,” said CityLink General Manager Doug Roelfs.
GPMTD will work in partnership with IDOT and CALSTART, a national 501(c)(3) non-profit to assist with all planning, technology selection, deployment/implementation, and all other aspects required for a successful transition. Dedicated funding is included in the award for each transit agency for workforce development focused on alternative fuels.
The current GPMTD fleet of fixed route (CityLink) buses includes forty-four (44) Gillig 35-foot low-floor diesel-powered buses, four (4) New Flyer 40-foot diesel-electric hybrid buses and three (3) Proterra Catalyst® 35-foot battery-electric buses. The GPMTD paratransit service (CityLift) currently includes a total of thirty-six (36) paratransit vehicles, and the rural transportation service (CountyLink) includes a total of twelve (12) paratransit vehicles.