Rhode Island Receives Federal Funding For Electric Buses

PROVIDENCE, RI — The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) has received $1.5 million in federal funding to buy electric buses.

A Federal Transit Administration Program will pay for the purchase and lease of low- and zero-emission buses.

U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat, told the Associated Press that the federal grant is a smart investment that will help RIPTA curb pollution, have a green bus fleet sooner, and reduce maintenance cost.

Electric buses are expected to be running by 2021.