Woodbridge May Get $1.5 Million For Electric Buses To Transport Seniors: Pallone

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — Electric buses could be on the road in Woodbridge Township with money from a U.S. House of Representatives spending bill, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-6) said Tuesday.

If the bill passes, $1.5 million would come to the township to buy the buses and charging stations to transport underserved communities within the township, Pallone said in a news release. Woodbridge Mayor John E. McCormac said the buses would transport senior citizens.

"This funding will help Woodbridge achieve its goal of aligning its infrastructure with New Jersey’s master plan and transition its municipal fleet to electric vehicles," the news release said.

Pallone said he secured the money for this "Woodbridge Township Zero Emissions Downtown and Community Mobility project" in next year's spending bill for the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing and Urban Development.

The House is expected to vote on the spending bill in the next few months, Pallone said.

“We must ensure that no community is left behind as we transition to clean energy technology," Pallone said. "The funding I secured for Woodbridge will help the town not only reduce carbon emissions, but also help expand clean transportation options to more residents. This is a commonsense investment that will help counter the effects of the climate crisis and create cleaner air right here in New Jersey. I look forward to seeing this project move through the legislative process.”

McCormac said the township is "honored" to be the grant recipient.

“Additionally, this grant further advances Woodbridge Township’s commitment to being environmentally sustainable along with our dedication to engage innovative solutions that protect our environment, specifically through the development of clean energy initiatives that contribute to our zero emission goals to purchase ‘state-of-the-art’ EV busses to transport our senior citizens as well as for our overall public works fleet," McCormac said.