Governor Jared Polis and the Colorado Department of Transportation announced last Friday $31.7 million in new grants for 28 new and all-electric transit buses. The grants are for local governments, nonprofits, and service providers to assist the Colorado Clean Transit Enterprise (CTE) board to help fund the new vehicles as well as the necessary infrastructure upgrades.
The CTE approved $15 million for the initiative while the remaining $16.7 million is coming from the Volkswagen Settlement Program, which was established as part of the German automaker's agreement with the federal government following the diesel emissions cheating scandal.
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“Coloradans are excited about the future of Electric Vehicles and Colorado continues to be a national leader in EV sales. This support will help ensure that Colorado’s EV transition doesn’t stop at personal vehicles but makes our buses and public transportation options cleaner too. Colorado continues to expand transportation options that get Coloradans where we need to go and reduce pollution,” said Governor Polis.
A more precise breakdown of the grants include:
- CTE investing $1,500,000 for 1 facility project, $384,000 for 1 infrastructure project, and $13,116,000 for 9 vehicle projects.
- The VW grant awards will invest $16,760,803 for 3 vehicle projects.
“This is an exciting milestone for the State of Colorado’s commitment to high-quality transit that contributes twice-over to cleaner air for us all. Not only do the transit services receiving these awards offer great service to local residents that gives them an option other than their cars, these funds will also invest in state-of-the-art vehicles and infrastructure that will make those transit trips the cleanest possible option,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew.
Some of the Colorado cities receiving the funds and the corresponding projects include:
- Town of Breckenridge will purchase 7 battery electric buses to replace existing rolling stock and chargers to support: awarded $2,943,112.
- The Town of Winter Park will purchase 2 battery electric buses to replace existing rolling stock: awarded $966,420.
- The Town of Telluride will purchase 1 electric cutaway shuttle bus to replace existing rolling stock: awarded $164,507.
- The Town of Avon will purchase 2 battery electric buses to replace existing rolling stock: awarded $1,714,706.
- The City of Fort Collins will purchase 1 battery electric bus to replace existing rolling stock: awarded $882,945.
- The City of Boulder will purchase 1 battery electric bus to replace existing rolling stock and expand its existing service fleet: awarded $595,826.
