$1.45M FTA Grant: Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses
A $1.45 million competitive Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant has
been awarded to the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD) for the purchase of no-emission, hydrogen fuel cell electric buses and associated infrastructure. The Low-No Emissions Grant is offered by the FTA to support the transition of the nation’s transit fleet to the lowest polluting and most energy efficient transit vehicles. Such a purchase will make MTD the first transit authority in the State of Illinois to add fuel cell electric buses to their fleet.
"The Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District continues to be a leader in the region by providing innovative transportation services to the community, and this grant is no
exception,” said U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL13). "I'm proud to see the transit district receive these funds, which will add two new, energy-efficient buses to its fleet."
"The implementation of these two fuel cell buses is sure to pave the way for the future use of clean and viable energy in both the Champaign-Urbana area and the rest of the state of Illinois." said Illinois Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL).
In anticipation of this advancement of MTD’s environmentally friendly efforts, Karl
Gnadt, MTD’s Managing Director, attended the Midwest Center of Excellence’s 2017 Public Transit Workshop this week in Canton, Ohio to examine the technology firsthand and to learn about such things as fueling and infrastructure requirements.
“MTD has long been on the front edge of technological advances,” said Gnadt. “With this Low-No Emissions Grant, MTD will be the first transit system in the country to commercially operate 60-foot, articulated, hydrogen fuel cell electric buses. This is fantastic news for the University of Illinois campus and the greater Champaign-Urbana area. We are grateful that Representative Davis and Senators Durbin and Duckworth worked together to show support for this local initiative that advances positive, sustainable programs here at home. This grant would not have been possible without their support.”