New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is purchasing 265 new zero-emission buses that will operate on routes across the city. 

The purchase builds on the 60 zero-emission buses that came last year and is in addition to the 205 zero-emission buses slated to come beginning late this year. 

MTA’s New Buses

The new 40-foot buses will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by upwards of 90 metric tons annually per bus. They feature lightweight electric traction drive systems that allow buses to recover up to 90% of their energy during braking. 

“New York City Transit has the largest bus fleet in the country, and we are charging forward with a plan to transition that fleet to cleaner, zero-emission buses,” said New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow. “Upgrades to Jamaica Bus Depot and the purchase of 265 new zero-emission buses made possible by Congestion Pricing are a major step forward toward cleaner air and quieter commutes throughout New York City.”

Adding Charging Stations

To support the expansion of charging infrastructure for the zero-emissions bus fleet, the MTA and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) are building new electric bus charging stations, including commissioning automated overhead pantographs that are expected to be operational at Jamaica Depot in fall of 2027. 

The design and buildout incorporate the necessary infrastructure improvements to eventually support a full fleet of electric buses that will be assigned to Jamaica Bus Depot. The new depot will further allow the MTA to transition to a fully-electric bus fleet, which will eliminate carbon emissions associated with diesel fuel exhaust, resulting in cleaner air for the city’s residents.

The new depot building will have a green roof, which will not only help clean the air and absorb stormwater, but also act as a form of insulation and reduce the depot’s energy use. 

The depot is being constructed in accordance with LEED certification standards, an accredited and globally recognized status of sustainability achievement in construction. 

The design of the new bus depot will address residents’ concerns about noise by erecting a sound-deadening barrier wall along 107th Avenue and another along 165th Street. 

The walls will shield residents from noise produced by bus depot operations as well as create a visual barrier from the depot itself. 

Work on Its Way

Infrastructure work has also already begun to deploy 205 additional overhead pantograph charging systems to Gun Hill and Queens Village to support zero-emission buses that will arrive at those depots late this year. In addition, several depots will require electric distribution upgrades in conjunction with Con Edison. 

The collaboration between MTA and NYPA will also deploy a sophisticated charge management system to help balance the electrical loads, and a long-term service agreement to help maintain reliable bus charging.