The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has published a request for proposals (RFP) to facilitate the development of an electric bus charging facility on Gun Hill Road in the Bronx.
The RFP calls for proposals to develop 50,000 square feet of industrial land adjacent to the MTA’s existing Gun Hill Road Bus Depot. This new development will include space for an electric bus charging facility, and will thus further the MTA’s goal of operating a zero-emission electric bus fleet by 2040.
MTA Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer, said:Industrial space options are increasingly rare in the Bronx, and New York City in general. This property serves as the catalyst for the large-scale electrification of our diesel-powered Bronx bus fleet by providing swing-space to accelerate the conversion of our existing bus depots to electric power, making the Bronx an early beneficiary of carbon-free buses. Early interest from prospective developers indicate that this will be the greenest industrial facility in North America, which is exciting for Bronxites as we take combustion-engine vehicles out of circulation.
In 2021, the MTA ordered 60 fully-electric buses to replace existing diesel models. The agency now hopes to accelerate this transition by investing in additional buses and facilities.
The RFP will encourage the selected developer to prioritise energy conservation and green technology within the new facility. Electric vehicle technology will be incorporated throughout the development and a solar panel array will be placed on the roof.
