July 09, 2024

Duckworth, Durbin Announce $30.9 Million in Federal Funding for Pace Suburban Bus' Hybrid Buses Program

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Pace, the Suburban Bus Division of the Regional Transportation Authority, will receive $30,911,000 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation.  With this award, Pace plans to purchase hybrid electric buses to replace vehicles that have exceeded their useful life and upgrade its maintenance facility to adapt to new technology.  The funding will also support training for operators and mechanics as it works toward the goal of a fully zero-based emissions fleet by 2040.

“Increasing the number of zero-emission and low-emission Pace busses protects the health of our communities and our state,” Duckworth said. “I’m proud to see this funding help support a cleaner, safer future for Illinoisans and the next generation. I will continue working alongside Senator Durbin and our local officials to ensure our communities receive the much-needed federal resources they deserve.”

“Today’s funding is a major investment in Illinois’ future.  Our state’s communities will be better connected and breathe cleaner air because of this federal support for Pace and its electric-based future,” said Durbin. “Senator Duckworth and I will continue working to ensure our state has the federal resources to build a stronger, cleaner transportation system.”

“We are thrilled to receive this funding, which will allow us to purchase approximately 25 hybrid-electric buses, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 6 tons, while keeping us on track to meet our commitment to reaching a fully zero-emission fleet by 2040,” said Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger.

“We are grateful for this new funding. With these new buses, Pace can save money at a time when cost savings for transit agencies are at a premium. Replacing 25 diesel buses with 25 hybrids saves nearly $2 million in fuel costs over the next 12 years, while we prepare our infrastructure to accommodate fully zero-emissions buses,” said Pace Chairman Rick Kwasneski.

This funding was allocated through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which both Duckworth and Durbin supported.

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