Tucson Mayor Regina Romero Celebrates the Receipt of $12.1 Million in Low or No Emission Grant for Electric Buses

After receiving $25 million from the Infrastructure R.A.I.S.E. program to help modernize the bridge on Twenty-Second Street, the City of Tucson received another $12.1 million, courtesy of the Biden/Harris Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, from the Federal Transit Administration in the Low or No Emission Grants, to help fund the acquisition of additional electric vehicle buses, “clean energy infrastructure to decarbonize Tucson’s transportation sector.”

This is the third time in the last three years, that Tucson has qualified for a Low or No Emission Grant.

Tucson, under Mayor Regina Romero’s stewardship, has been a leader in advancing clean energy sustainability policies.

Earlier in the week, the Mayor celebrated the progress made in the Tucson Million Trees Program.

Over the last two years, the city has made commitments to developing an electric vehicle roadmap for the city and a close to 100 percent clean energy-electric vehicle public transit fleet by 2030.

According to a press release from Mayor Romero’s office, this $12.1 million grant will help the city meet that goal with provisions for:

“the purchase of 10 40-foot battery electric buses with five associated electric charging stations for fixed-route service. The grant also includes funding for Seven 26-foot battery electric cutaway shuttle buses with four associated charging stations for paratransit service and two additional 26-foot battery electric cutaway vehicles with one associated charging station that will operate on a new transit route connecting the community to the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area.”

These ten new electric buses will be added to the current 40 electric vehicle bus complement which was partially funded by the two previous Low or No Emission grants Tucson has received.

Commenting in the press release, Mayor Romero stated:

“Today we are investing $12M to expand the City’s EV bus fleet to ensure cleaner air, quieter streets, and protect frontline communities from the health impacts associated with climate change. I want to thank the Biden-Harris Administration and our Congressional delegation for prioritizing federal resources through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to modernize our bus fleet and facilities…Through our EV Readiness Roadmap, Mayor and Council are taking proactive steps in creating the infrastructure of the future. I am grateful to TEP CEO Susan Gray for her partnership as we speed up our clean energy efforts to benefit Tucsonans.”

Later on social media, she posted:

According to the press release, Tucson, Pima Association of Governments/Regional Transportation Authority, and Tucson Electric Power will share in the local match totaling a little over three million dollars.