August 15, 2022. The Federal Transit Administration awarded the money to Tulsa Transit for fleet improvement. Part of the funding will go toward the purchase of nine compressed natural gas (CNG) buses to operate the Route 66 BRT line that will begin in February 2025. It will run along 11th and 21st streets from downtown to 145th East Avenue.
The rest of the funding will be dedicated to further develop a greener fleet with the purchase of seven additional all-electric, zero-emission buses. Tulsa Transit General Manager Scott Marr said the electric buses will help replace 10 majorly diesel fuel buses in the aging fleet.
“We’re excited about getting buses that will help lower emissions in the city of Tulsa,” Marr said. “Getting away from utilizing diesel and gas vehicles will help our ozone layer during this time of ozone alert from August and September while we’re offering free rides. It’ll help our community as well.”
Tulsa Transit has 107 vehicles: 82 are CNG, four electric, seven diesel and 14 gas-powered. The expansion of the fleet will increase their frequency over time.
These grants were part of the first competitive grant selections under the bipartisan infrastructure law, providing $1.66 billion in grants to transit agencies, territories, and states across the country.