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DDOT
and
SMART
awarded
$2.6
million
in FTA
Low-No
Grant
Funding
for
Electric
Buses
DETROIT
- The
Detroit
Department
of
Transportation
(DDOT)
and the
Suburban
Mobility
Authority
for
Regional
Transportation
(SMART)
will
receive
$2.6
million
in
grants
through
the Low-
or No
Emission
(Low-No)
Grant
program
from the
U.S.
Department
of
Transportation
(USDOT)
Federal
Transit
Administration
(FTA).
The
funding
will
enable
the
purchase
of up to
six
electric
buses
and
charging
infrastructure.
The
grant
award
offers
an
opportunity
for each
transit
agency
to
partner
with DTE
and
Proterra,
a
leading
all-electric
bus
manufacturer,
in
bringing
this new
technology
to
southeast
Michigan.
“This is
a great
opportunity
for DDOT
and
SMART to
work
together
to test
the
electric
bus
technology
in our
region,”
said
DDOT’s
Interim
Director,
Angelica
Jones.
"It is
another
collaborative
effort
to
enhance
our
customer
transit
experience
–
easier,
convenient
and
efficient
service.”
SMART
and DDOT
have
found
common
ground
on
various
projects,
most
recently
collaborating
on the
new Dart
payment
system
for both
agencies.
“We are
pleased
to
collaborate
again
with
DDOT on
another
positive
transit
project.
Along
with the
support
and
partnership
of
Proterra
and DTE,
their
expertise
is a big
plus,”
said
John C.
Hertel,
General
Manager
of
SMART.
“The
all-electric
bus
project
is a big
step
into the
future
for
transit
in
southeast
Michigan.”
Working
together,
SMART
and DDOT
submitted
a joint
application
in March
of this
year for
funding
to
purchase
up to
six
all-electric
buses to
replace
older
age and
mileage
eligible
diesel
buses.
The
addition
of
all-electric
vehicles
further
modernizes
each
agencies
fleet.
DTE is
supporting
the
project
and is
committed
to make
a
prudent
investment
towards
the
infrastructure
necessary
for
charging
the
buses
while
on-route
and at
the
respective
terminals.
“We are
excited
to
partner
with the
City of
Detroit
and
SMART to
bring
zero-emission
buses
into our
region,”
said
Trevor
Lauer,
President
& COO,
DTE
Electric.
“This
project
demonstrates
our
commitment
to
expand
regional
sustainability
efforts
through
clean,
efficient
transportation.”
In
addition,
Proterra
was
instrumental
in the
development
of this
project
performing
route
analysis
to
determining
what
type of
bus is
most
suitable
for the
service
area for
each
agency.
The
development
of the
grant
application
and
project
were
heavily
supported
by the
expertise
and
knowledge
of both
DTE and
Proterra
in their
respective
industries.
The
zero-emission,
all-electric
buses
will be
manufactured
in the
USA by
Proterra
and are
expected
to be
deployed
sometime
in 2021.
SMART
and DDOT
secured
support
from
Representative’s
Andy
Levin
and
Rashida
Tlaib,
Senator
Gary
Peters
and
Mayor
Mike
Duggan.
About
DDOT
The
Detroit
Department
of
Transportation
is the
largest
public
transit
agency
in
Michigan.
DDOT
primarily
serves
the city
of
Detroit
and
neighboring
cities
including
Dearborn,
Hamtramck,
Highland
Park,
Harper
Woods,
Livonia,
Redford
Township,
River
Rouge
and
Southfield.
DDOT has
48 fixed
bus
routes,
11,
24-hour
routes
and six
express
routes
with an
average
daily
ridership
of
85,000
riders.
DDOT
prides
itself
on
providing
transit
service
that’s
reliable,
clean,
safe and
efficient.
For
routes
and fare
information,
visit
ridedetroittransit.com.
About
SMART
Serving
residents
since
1967,
SMART is
southeast
Michigan’s
only
regional
public
transportation
provider,
offering
convenient,
reliable
and safe
transportation
for
Macomb,
Oakland
and
Wayne
Counties.
SMART’s
Fixed
Route
and
small
bus
services
connect
people
to
employment
and
educational
institutions,
medical
appointments
and
shopping
centers.
For
routes
and fare
information,
visit
smartbus.org.
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