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First Electric Buses in Conn. Roll Through Bridgeport

Greater Bridgeport Electric Bus
Susan Rubinsky
/
Connecticut Department of Transportation
Bridgeport is the first city in Connecticut to begin running two electric buses.

Connecticut’s first battery-powered electric buses are going into service in the state’s largest city. Two battery-powered electric buses are entering service as part of Greater Bridgeport Transit’s fleet.

Garrett Eucalitto is with the Connecticut Department of Transportation. He said cities like Bridgeport face higher asthma rates because of air pollution from so many cars and buses.

“It’s not just an economic impact, it’s a health care impact," Eucalitto said. "So it’s only fitting that we begin to address climate change and the inequitable impact of transportation emissions by investing in buses that have zero tailpipe emissions and welcome the first two battery electric buses here in Connecticut.”

Transportation officials say each bus is the equivalent of planting 5,000 trees. Greater Bridgeport Transit plans to introduce up to three more buses into their fleet.

Governor Ned Lamont says the buses are a sign of a better future.

“On the post-side of this pandemic you’re gonna see our cities really coming to life as a great place to be," Lamont said. "Part of that is good clean efficient public transportation like greener Bridgeport transit.”

The Connecticut Department of Transportation says it’s buying twelve electric buses for Hartford and New Haven’s routes. Funding came from the Federal Transit Administration and state and local sources. 

Davis Dunavin loves telling stories, whether on the radio or around the campfire. He started in Missouri and ended up in Connecticut, which, he'd like to point out, is the same geographic trajectory taken by Mark Twain.