Stamford Receives $26M For 20 Electric Buses, Transit Upgrades

STAMFORD, CT — Stamford will receive $26.4 million by way of a grant that was given to the CT Department of Transportation to purchase 20 battery electric buses and implement transit facility infrastructure upgrades in the CTtransit Stamford Division

The grant is being awarded through the competitive Low or No Emission Grant Program, which provides funding to purchase zero-emission and low-emission transit buses, as well as upgrades to support facilities.

As a result of the bipartisan infrastructure law, $5.5 billion in grant funding is available nationwide, which is six times greater than in the previous five years.

"Here in Connecticut we are doing everything we can to increase our use of green technology so that we can do our part to reduce emissions and build a cleaner, healthier, and more prosperous future," Gov. Ned Lamont said in a news release.

Lamont has a goal of converting the statewide public transportation bus fleet from diesel to zero-emission models by 2035, which he directed CTDOT to complete through Executive Order No. 21-3.

"These 20 new electric buses that will be used in Stamford bring us one step closer to our state’s goal of a fully electric bus fleet statewide by 2035. Having incredible partners in the Biden administration, including in the Federal Transit Administration, as well as the support of our entire Congressional delegation, is only helping to increase our efforts," Lamont added.

Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris. Murphy (D-CT), along with Congressman Jim Himes (D-CT, 4th Congressional District), touted the grant and the impact it will have on Stamford. They pledged to continue to push for funding for clean energy systems.

"Every day my constituents in Bridgeport and Stamford depend on public buses to get to their jobs, homes, and schools. They know that our buses have long been due for an upgrade, and I’m proud that Stamford will now have the $26.4 million in federal funding needed to invest in a brand-new fleet of electric buses," Himes said in a news release. "This grant will not only make the CTtransitbus service greener, but also more reliable so that no one has to waste time waiting at a bus stop when they could be spending time with their families."

Improvements to the existing CTtransit Stamford Division bus depot include adding chargers, power upgrades and building retrofits.

The CTtransit Stamford Division provides bus services in the greater Stamford area with 19 local and one express route, according to a news release from Lamont's office.

Buses also operate out of the Stamford Transportation Center, connecting with Amtrak and Metro-North rail services.

The recently adopted biennium budget provides $1.8 million for the CTtransit Stamford Division to initiate new local crosstown routes between the city’s Springdale and Cove areas, improving service and travel time.

Annually, the CTtransit Stamford Division provides approximately 3.5 million passenger trips, representing roughly 10 percent of all bus trips in Connecticut, Lamont's office said.