The city of Madison announced a resolution by Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and nine alders authorizing a contract with New Flyer Industries for zero-emissions Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) vehicles and approving the next steps for the East-West BRT project, according to a release from the city. Funding through the federal Infrastructure and Jobs Act allows Madison to modify its BRT bus purchase to include up to 46 all-electric buses without additional local funding.
The resolution calls for the order of 27 60-foot, all-electric articulated buses, which is more than half of the 46 vehicles needed to operate the upcoming BRT system. It also includes an option to add 19 more of these vehicles if additional funding becomes available through the federal Infrastructure and Jobs Act and Small Starts grant programs. The resolution also approves the roadway and station geometry for the East-West BRT project. The new buses are expected to conserve nearly a quarter of a million gallons of fuel yearly and save up to $125,000 in maintenance costs per vehicle during the lifetime of a bus.
