Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has announced its ambitious plan to significantly increase its electric bus fleet by purchasing 22 new electric buses. The decision comes as part of the CTA’s ongoing efforts to promote sustainable transportation and reduce harmful emissions in the city.
The Chicago Transit Board has authorized the exercise of a contract option, valued at $26.2 million, to procure additional standard 40-foot electric buses. The original contract, awarded to Proterra in 2018 through a competitive procurement process, included an initial order of 23 electric buses and an option to purchase up to 25 more.
Having already received the original bus order, the CTA intends to leverage a combination of funds from a federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant and funds from RTA (Regional Transportation Authority) to expand its electric bus fleet to a total of 47 vehicles. The newly ordered buses are expected to arrive in early 2025. Ultimately, the CTA envisions transitioning to an all-electric fleet by 2040.
Dorval R. Carter, Jr., President of the CTA, emphasized the positive impact of expanding the electric bus fleet, particularly in vulnerable communities located on the South and West sides of Chicago, which are disproportionately affected by high levels of harmful pollutants. Carter stated, “Expanding our electric bus fleet will allow us to extend the benefits of all-electric buses to even more vulnerable communities… and also provide our riders with a more reliable and quieter transit experience.”
In addition to electrifying its bus fleet, the city of Chicago has been actively pursuing electric vehicles across various sectors. The Chicago Electric initiative, launched in May, aims to transition the entire municipal fleet to electric vehicles. As part of this initiative, the Chicago police department has already ordered a fleet of 200 hybrid Ford Interceptors back in 2019.
