Senator Collins Announces $2 Million Grant to Purchase Two Electric Buses for BSOOB Transit
Builds upon funding Senator Collins secured to purchase two electric buses and charging infrastructure in 2019 and 2021
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Ranking Member of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, announced that Biddeford-Saco-Old Orchard Beach (BSOOB) Transit has received a total of $2,047,407 to purchase two electric buses to replace two diesel buses that have reached the end of their useful lives. This grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Low and No Emission (Low-No) Vehicle Grant Program. The funding was provided through the bipartisan infrastructure law, which Senator Collins negotiated with nine of her colleagues.
“Meeting the transportation needs of Biddeford, Saco, Old Orchard Beach, and Scarborough residents as well as their many summer visitors requires a public transit system that is safe, reliable, and eco-friendly,” said Senator Collins. “As the Ranking Member of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, I have strongly advocated for funding to launch BSOOB Transit’s electric bus fleet and install charging infrastructure. This investment will build on that effort by allowing BSOOB Transit to take two more diesel buses off the road and replace them with battery-powered, carbon-neutral, and 100% sustainable buses.”
“This is a very exciting announcement of transportation funding to the Biddeford, Saco, and Old Orchard Beach communities. This grant award will propel our agency closer to the state’s emission reduction goals,” said Chad Heid, Executive Director of BSOOB Transit. “We’re very thankful for the advocacy of Senator Collins and our federal delegation to secure this grant award, as well as the funding support from Maine DOT. We look forward to operating a fleet of four battery electric buses and leveraging the on-route charging infrastructure that was funded through previous grant awards. The zero-emission fleet will be operated through the BSOOB Transit service area, which includes Biddeford, Saco, Old Orchard Beach, Scarborough, South Portland, and Portland.”
In 2019, Senator Collins announced that BSOOB Transit was awarded $880,000 to replace two diesel buses with two electric buses replacing. In 2021, she secured an additional $1.2 million to allow BSOOB Transit to purchase depot and on-route charging equipment, which allows the new electric buses to remain on the road for a full 16-hour service day.
