United States Governor Kathy Hochul has introduced 60 new electric buses for operation in three New York City boroughs.
Set to begin services in Queens, Staten Island & Brooklyn, the 60 new buses will also herald the installation of critical infrastructure at several key areas of operation.
Featuring a lightweight electric traction drive system, the new buses have been funded with roughly 70 million USD from the Federal Transit Administration, with 20 million USD dedicated from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“These new electric buses will play a key role in ensuring New Yorkers can get to where they’re going safely and sustainably.
“Zero-emission buses are becoming the hallmark of our transit systems, demonstrating the importance of building healthy, environmentally friendly cities.”
Working closely with the New York Power Authority (NYPA); the MTA has already completed the installation of 17 autonomous pantograph charging points at the Grand Avenue Bus Depot and Central Maintenance Facility in Queens, with a further 46 set to be built at both the Herkimer lot in Brooklyn and the Charleston facility in Staten Island.
An on-street pantograph has also been constructed under the Williamsburg Bridge Plaza in Brooklyn.
A 188 million USD second phase of work will see the installation of 220 additional overhead pantograph charging systems at Grand Avenue and a further four other depots in Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx and Brooklyn, with several depots requiring electric distribution upgrades in order to facilitate the new infrastructure.
These upgrades are set to be performed in conjunction with Consolidated Edison, one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the United States.
“The New York Power Authority and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority are making significant progress in building out infrastructure to support the electrification of the nation’s largest bus fleet.
“An influx of 60 new buses and a rapidly increasing number of chargers will set New York City on a firm path to a clean transportation system that will have zero-emission buses traveling through every New York City borough by 2026.”
The MTA expects to receive its next order of 205 electric buses by 2026, with plans to procure a further 265 battery electric buses at six depots from the start of 2027.
