WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – Wave Transit has received $1.02 million in funding from the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Low or No Emission Grant to purchase six new shuttle buses.
Wave Transit announced in a press release that the new vehicles will replace six older shuttle buses, reducing the fleet’s average age and switching the last of this vehicle type from diesel to compressed natural gas (CNG).
“Upgraded vehicles help to maintain a safe and reliable transit system that benefits Wave Transit customers and the other commuters sharing the road,” a Wave Transit spokesperson said in the release.
This announcement comes as Wave Transit has seen an increase in ridership of 48% (42,000 more trips) this year on Wave Transit’s Seahawk Shuttle routes and a 28% rise across all fixed routes.
The new shuttles will be used primarily on Seahawk Shuttle routes and on other fixed routes when needed.
In June, the Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority (Wave Transit) Board of Directors authorized staff to apply for Low or No Emission Grant funding.
The FTA allocated $2 billion to 165 projects across 45 states. In North Carolina, funding went solely to Wave Transit and Winston-Salem Transit Authority.
Wave Transit has received the FTA Low or No Emission Grant funding once before in 2023. Those funds purchased four CNG fixed-route buses and one CNG shuttle, which transitioned the last of its fixed-route fleet away from diesel fuel.
“These vehicles will last at least about seven to eight years at least,” said executive director of Wave Transit Mark Hairr. “We have a very robust and reliable maintenance program to keep the vehicles operating. We are glad to see new vehicles coming in to replace the older ones.”
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