Ore.'s Lane Transit orders 11 New Flyer CHARGE battery-electric buses

In 2014, LTD received silver level certification for APTA’s sustainability commitment. New Flyer

Eugene, Ore.’s Lane Transit District (LTD) awarded New Flyer a contract for 11 Xcelsior CHARGE™ battery-electric 40-foot heavy-duty transit buses, including seven ABB depot chargers to support electric bus infrastructure development.

The zero-emission bus purchase, supported by Federal Transit Administration Low or No-Emission funding, helps LTD to continue fulfilling its mission of providing clean, reliable, convenient transportation options for the Eugene-Springfield, Ore., metro area and surrounding community.

LTD has a longstanding commitment to sustainability. In 2014, it received silver level certification for APTA’s sustainability commitment. Since then, the agency hired a sustainability program manager and conducted carbon footprint analysis of its operations to measure the impacts and benefits of public transit on climate change. The study found the two greatest opportunities to reduce community greenhouse gas emissions existed in ridership increases and reduction of fleet vehicle emissions. The LTD’s board is now developing ambitious emission reduction goals for its fleet.

With the addition of Xcelsior CHARGE™ buses to its fleet, LTD joins other west coast cities leading the transition to zero-emission mobility with New Flyer, including Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, San Diego, Coachella Valley, Oakland, San Francisco, Orange County, and Victor Valley.

In assessing its transition to sustainable mobility, LTD employed an innovative partnership with the University of Oregon (UO) to study opportunities and challenges. The Sustainable City Year Program, part of UO’s Sustainable Cities Initiative now in its 10th year of pairing students with community partners in need of fresh ideas, partnered with LTD over the 2019/2020 academic year. It focused on projects to make local transportation more efficient and sustainable, examining physical infrastructure and soliciting design ideas for transit stations.

Since 2004, NFI has delivered 50 buses to LTD, including New Flyer transit buses and low-floor cutaway buses from NFI sister company ARBOC. Over half are comprised of electric hybrid propulsion, helping to lower emissions from public transit.

Originally posted on Metro Magazine