NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff announced that $3 million has been awarded to Nashville to replace four hybrid buses with zero-emissions electric buses that will serve downtown riders.
Rogoff announced the funding during a news conference Friday in Nashville.
The electric buses will be part of the Music City Circuit, which is a free bus service that runs in the central business district and connects to areas like the state Capitol and the Nashville Farmer's Market.
"It's a great that's really going to leapfrog
Nashville over a great many other cities. These buses are going to be the first
clean fuel buses that will serve the Nashville MTA," said Rogoff.
He said there were many cities who were vying for the funding, but the Nashville application came out on top because it was jumping so far ahead of other transit plans.
"This is really the next generation. This is the
cutting edge, and this is going to be a model for mid-sized cities and larger
cities all across the country," said Rogoff.
Mayor Karl Dean talked about his goal to make Nashville the cleanest city in the Southeast. He said economic studies also showed businesses want to move to areas with vibrant transit options.
"By converting
the downtown circuit vehicles to new electric buses, our city is without doubt
taking another step in the right direction," said Dean.
The city also has plans for a bus rapid transit connecter and is also seeking federal funding for that project.
(NewsChannel5 and The Associated Press.)
