SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE $2 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO HELP BUILD A NEW, STATE-OF-THE-ART ELECTRIC CHARGING BUILDING FOR ROCHESTER BUSES
The “Advanced Environmental Service Building” Will Support Electric Charging of New Electric Buses and Will Clean Buses with Reclaimed Water
Funding Will Be Provided to the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $2 million in federal U.S. Department of Transportation funding for the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA) to help construct a new $10 million Advanced Environmental Service Building, which will both support charging of new, low-pollution electric buses and use reclaimed water to clean buses to reduce the environmental impact and lower operational costs.
“RGRTA’s transportation services are a lifeline for Rochester-area residents, institutions and businesses and this new vital funding will allow them to build an Advanced Environmental Science Building on East Main Street in Rochester, complete with charging stations for their fleet of brand new, pollution-reducing electric buses,” said Senator Schumer. “I fought to create this funding stream because investment in transportation infrastructure is critical for a healthy economy and quality of life. I will continue to work hard to deliver resources that build and modernize our transportation systems for commuters in Rochester and across all of New York so commuters can have a safer, faster and more efficient ride.”
“Bus transit is a vital form of travel for many New Yorkers. With this federal investment, communities in the Rochester region will be able to keep their electric buses in top shape with a new Advanced Environmental Service Building,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This will help strengthen our transportation infrastructure, make service more efficient for commuters, and help reduce air pollution.”
“On behalf of our customers and the more than 900 employees at the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority, I thank all of our elected leaders in Washington for awarding us this critical infrastructure grant funding,” said RGRTA CEO Bill Carpenter. “There is a transformation taking place in the world of public transportation. The needs and expectations of our community are changing. New technologies and mobility options are emerging. Our customers and local businesses want us to do more. It is why we are reimagining public transit for our community and why investments like this are so important. This funding will help us construct a new Advanced Environmental Service Facility to ensure our buses are maintained in a state of good repair while reducing our environmental impact. It will also support the charging infrastructure we need for new electric buses that will be added to our fleet in the next few years. This is a smart investment in projects that will benefit our community for many years to come.”
The U.S. Department of Transportation provided this funding through the Bus and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Investment Program, which provides funding to states and direct recipients to replace, rehabilitate, and purchase buses and related equipment, as well as to construct bus-related facilities. More information is available here.
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