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Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto today announced that the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is receiving a $38.9 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to purchase 46 electric buses and to install 29 chargers for the CTfastrak bus rapid transit service.
The grant will aid in CTDOT’s project of converting CTfastrak to an all-electric bus fleet.
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, keeping him in alignment with globalist intentions to eliminate the use of fossil fuels.
Connecticut politicians eagerly lined up behind the move to so-called "green" bus technology, including Senator Richard "Da Nang Dick" Blumenthal who was excited about "greener transportation options that reduce carbon emissions and improve our air quality."
Senator Chris Murphy echoed Blumenthal's sentiment about "green" transportation and said, "the switch will help make our public transit more environmentally-friendly, cost-efficient, and convenient for the thousands of people who rely on CTfastrak every day.”
Congressman John Larson said, "these new buses will help reduce traffic congestion, lower emissions, and expand rapid bus service."
Congresswoman Jahana Hayes is eager to get school children on electric buses to reduce the carbon footprint.
Of course, none of these politicians seemed to recall the time the entire electric bus fleet in Connecticut was pulled after a devastating bus fire in Hamden on July 23, 2022. The electric fleet remained off the road for a year after the fire, returning to service on August 2, 2023.
The NTSB report detailed how the Connecticut bus fire "remained active for several hours and fully consumed the vehicle.”
The electric bus destroyed in the fire cost approximately $900,000, according to DOT officials.
Electric battery fires can be notoriously difficult to extinguish and pose the risk of electric shock to emergency responders. Furthermore, damaged cells in the battery can experience uncontrolled increases in temperature and pressure (thermal runaway), which can lead to hazards such as battery reignition/fire.
This used to be called "Busway" which has been an embarrassment to the state.
How much did it cost (a lot) and how many people use it (next to none)?