Miami-Dade Unveils New Electric School Buses in Clean Transit Initiative
Miami-Dade County introduced brand-new, environmentally friendly school buses on Monday morning as part of its ongoing commitment to protecting children and improving air quality.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Miami-Dade Public Schools as one of five recipients to receive nearly $33,175,000 through the EPA’s first Clean School Bus Program’s Grants Competition. This initiative included an investment of nearly $20 million to procure 50 new electric school buses.
At Coral Reef High School in southwest Miami-Dade, a select group consisting of students, staff, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, and EPA Administrator Michael Regan took a test ride aboard the buses on Monday.
The response from those who will be operating these buses was overwhelmingly positive, with local leaders praising the funding for the new “green fleet” as beneficial to the environment.
“With this gift, it’s 100 electric buses in the fleet,” said Mayor Levine Cava.
The funding, made available through President Joe Biden’s “Investing in America” agenda, aims to assist selected school districts in acquiring clean school buses and establishing necessary charging infrastructure.
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“The traditional diesel buses that transport our students rely on internal combustion engines that emit toxic pollutants into the air,” stated Regan. “These pollutants are harmful to the environment and the health of the surrounding communities.”
Miami-Dade school bus operator Sandra Martinez expressed her excitement for her new work vehicle with Local 10 News.
“It’s a clean ride; it’s smooth; it’s quiet,” she said.
Officials hope that by the end of this year or into the next school year, all 1,000 buses in the fleet will be electric.