The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Department of Transportation announced grants of more than $12.8 million to Ohio transit agencies to replace aging diesel buses with zero-emission models, including close to $3 million to the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA).

In TARTA’s case, the Diesel Emission Reduction Grant (DERG) will allow $2,876,400, or 80% of the cost, for replacing three model year 2008 diesel buses with electric vehicles. This is in addition to the 11 other grant-funded full-sized electric buses scheduled to arrive at TARTA later this year.

TARTA Zero

The buses and the paratransit plug-in vehicles already on the road represent the first steps of TARTA Zero, which is TARTA’s drive to have a complete fleet of zero-emission buses by 2040.

“We are thrilled to receive this grant, and I am so proud of our team that we have been able to secure more and more competitive grant funding each year to make sorely-needed improvements to our fleet and facilities,” said TARTA CEO Laura Koprowski. “These new vehicles will help cut down on air and noise pollution, but more than that I see embracing these changes as a commitment to the health of our entire community.” 

Impact of Zero Emissions Push

The Ohio EPA estimates that this grant and the others part of this year’s award will eliminate almost two tons of air pollutants annually, in addition to helping counties meet and maintain federal air quality standards.

Grants were also awarded to:

• The Southern Ohio Regional Transit Authority ($4,886,708), to replace eight model 2013 buses with diesel-electric hybrid models.

• The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority($2,668,995), to replace five model 2014 buses with CNG-powered vehicles.

• The Western Reserve Transit Authority ($1,848,023), to replace two 2014 buses with electric-powered vehicles.

• The Stark Area Regional Transit Authority ($531,150), to place one 2011 model with one new CNG-powered vehicle.