The announcement coincided with the conclusion of Climate Week.
The first phase of the multi-year $54 million project, managed by the New York Power Authority, includes building 67 overhead and cabled dispensers to prepare for 60 new electric buses expected to arrive early next year. All of the work is set to be complete by mid-2024.
"Electrifying our metropolitan bus fleets in the greatest city in the world enables us to showcase New York's leadership when it comes to climate actions that will have a lasting impact," Hochul said in a rstatement. "The progress at these in-city bus depots is the latest example of New York building clean energy infrastructure that will improve our air quality and benefit communities that have borne the brunt of a fossil-fuel economy. This major transformation of our bus fleet will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide system efficiencies, and enable our transition to a zero-emission bus fleet by 2040."
The project involves restructuring the bus depots to accommodate overhead pantograph dispensers and specific lanes for electric buses to charge.
Installations will begin within the next month at the Charleston depot located on Arthur Kill Road.
"Installing electric bus chargers is a major step in the MTA's ambitious plan to transition to a zero-emission bus fleet by 2040. Mass transit is the antidote to climate change, and I want to thank Governor Hochul for her leadership in ensuring the MTA becomes a model transit system," MTA Chair and CEO Janne Lieber stated.
"The New York Power Authority is proud to work with the MTA to reshape and decarbonize public transit in urban areas and inspire other municipalities to follow suit. This work is truly transformative for mass transportation and once again New York is leading the way," said New York State Power Authority President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll.
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