15 electric buses OK’d for South Dade Transitway

Miami-Dade keeps expanding its electric bus fleet, with a new buy of 15 buses to roll down the South Dade Transitway starting in August 2023.

Commissioners on Tuesday OK’d a grant pact with the Florida Department of Transportation to get the 60-foot electric buses for a $17.47 million total cost, of which the state is to pay $8.7 million and the county the remainder from half-penny transit surtax funds. Kionne McGhee cast the only ‘no’ vote.

The South Dade Transitway Corridor is one of the six rapid transit corridors of the Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (SMART) Plan. The 19.8-mile route runs from Dadeland South Metrorail station along US 1 to SW 344th Street.

The bus buy is part of an active solicitation of 100 60-foot electric buses, a memo from Chief Operations Officer Jimmy Morales details. “These are articulated buses with more passenger capacity,” said Luis Espinoza, transportation department spokesperson.

The Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization Governing Board OK’d an amendment to the Transportation Improvement Program last week to include new federal funding to buy ten battery-powered electric buses.

The county has been shifting toward electric power since 2019, when commissioners agreed to buy 33 battery-electric buses and install depot chargers from Proterra. In 2021 the county bought 42 more buses, bringing total electric-powered transit buses to 75.

The shipment of 33 electric buses will begin to arrive in July, followed by another 42 from October through January 2023, Mr. Espinoza said. “Upon the full delivery of the 75 vehicles, DTPW will run one of the largest fleets of 40-foot battery-powered electric buses in the United States.”

The department is now testing for service its first-ever all-electric bus, Mr. Espinoza added.

Proterra battery-electric buses feature zero tailpipe emissions, saving about 230,000 pounds of greenhouse gases a year when replacing a diesel bus, a county press note says.