MnDOT Secures $3.4 Million In Federal Funds For Electric Buses

MINNESOTA — The Minnesota Department of Transportation has secured $3.4 million in federal funds for six electric buses.

The new buses will replace six conventional gas-powered buses currently used by four rural transit systems:

• Heartland Express (Brown County)
• SMART/Cedar Valley Services, Inc.
• Prairie Lakes Transit/Faribault-Martin County Transit Board
• Minnesota River Valley Transit

The six new electric buses will save 30,500 gallons of fuel each year, according to transit officials.

The funds come from the 2021 federal infrastructure law. MnDOT will match the grant with $425,196 of its own funds.

"Deploying battery electric buses in place of fossil fuel vehicles will reduce energy consumption and harmful emissions, including greenhouse gases and particulates," said Amber Dallman, MnDOT’s Transit Programs and Implementation assistant director in a news release.

"Public transit is an important part of our transportation system. Many people in rural areas rely on transit to access jobs, shopping and healthcare. This project helps us make service improvements while working to reduce emissions."