by Catalyst

A new contract agreement will provide an additional 60 all-electric buses to the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority over the next five years.

During a Wednesday board meeting, the PSTA board unanimously approved an agreement with California-based GILLIG LLC to provide 60 electric buses that will replace PSTA’s fleet.

“PSTA is taking major steps toward fulfilling its aspiration of a fully green fleet by 2050,”

PSTA CEO Brad Miller said in a statement. “More zero-emission buses, as well as charging infrastructure, will reduce emissions and improve air quality that impacts public health locally while contributing to an overall effort to combat climate change and sea-level rise.”

The entire project to replace the fleet, including the chargers, will cost $80 million. The goal is to purchase zero-emission electric buses subject to the availability of funds.

“We will be doing it [purchasing the buses] based on the amount of grant funding we have in place at any given time. This is historic in the event that not only we are moving forward with the 60 all-electric, green, zero-emission buses, but we will be placing the first order on this procurement by buying two years’ worth of buses. We will be seeing 12 electric buses received by 2023 and another 12 by the end of 2024,” PSTA Chief Finance Officer Debbie Leous said during the board meeting.

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