Freshman U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, D-Fla., spent much of last week making public transportation in North Florida a little more friendly to the environment.
Lawson teamed up with fellow freshman U.S. Rep. John Rutherford, R-Fla., to announce that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will send $1 million to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority to buy Low or No (Low-No) emission buses.
Over the summer, Lawson and Rutherford made their case to the FTA as to why Jacksonville should receive these funds.
On Thursday, the two congressmen announced the funds would be coming to the JTA which will run new busses from Armsdale Park-n-Ride to the Amazon Distribution Facility.
“This is great news for the city of Jacksonville, and its residents,” Lawson said. “I commend JTA for their commitment to expand its fleet of alternative-fueled vehicles. In the long run, this will help to increase fuel standards for the city and improve the air quality for our city’s residents. I am proud to have supported this funding and look forward to working with JTA on ways to further expand Jacksonville’s clean energy initiative.”
“I welcome the news of JTA’s federal grant award and the investment in new efficient buses to enhance accessibility for Northeast Floridians,” Rutherford said. “This federal investment will not only strengthen our world-class transit system but also improve air quality and lower fuel costs. I commend JTA for its commitment to serving the citizens of Northeast Florida and look forward to seeing their new battery electric buses on the road.”
Lawson also announced on Thursday that the FTA awarded $1 million in grants to the city of Tallahassee/StarMetro to buy 15 new electric busses.
“This is great news for Tallahassee, the new electric buses will help to lower fuel costs and improve the air quality for our city’s residents,” Lawson said. “I am proud to have supported this funding and look forward to working with StarMetro on ways to further promote clean energy in our area.”
"This award offers tremendous support for our efforts to grow and refine our electric bus fleet, and further advances the commitment to clean and renewable energy that we have embraced as a community," said Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum after the FTA announced the grant.
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