For the second time in the past four months, CTE and hometown transit agency MARTA are celebrating major progress in Atlanta's drive toward a zero-emission transit fleet.

CTE Executive Director Dan Raudebaugh joined MARTA Interim CEO/GM Collie Greenwood, FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez, Congresswoman Nikema Williams, and ATU Local 732 President Britt Dunams for the announcement of MARTA's $19.3 million FTA Low or No Emission Vehicle Program (Low-No) award on Tuesday, August 23.

"CTE has been based in Atlanta for nearly 30 years and we are proud to bring our industry leading expertise to bear once again to support our home town transit agency in securing federal funding to advance its transition to a zero-emission fleet," said CTE Executive Director Dan Raudebaugh. CTE staff helped MARTA to develop its successful 2022 Low-No application, which will bring 25 new battery electric buses and charging infrastructure to Atlanta. CTE helped to craft MARTA's first successful Low-No award application in 2019, and continues to support the deployment of the agencies' first six battery electric buses, which launched in the spring.

"We are grateful to the FTA for its continued support of our sustainability efforts," said MARTA Interim General Manager and CEO Collie Greenwood, "Our goal is to continue adding electric buses to the fleet to help combat climate change and reduce the public health impacts from air pollution, especially in our most vulnerable populations."

FTA's program this year emphasized alignment with President Biden's Justice40 initiative to advance environment justice, and we worked with MARTA to ensure this next deployment will focus on low-income communities disproportionately affected by pollution. These buses will operate out of MARTA's Perry bus depot, and serve disadvantaged communities on Atlanta's Westside.

As part of the proposal, CTE also helped MARTA develop its first zero-emission fleet transition plan, which puts the agency on a path to reach a 100% zero-emission fleet. We thank MARTA for its regional leadership and continued collaboration with CTE as we advance our shared vision for a fully zero-emission transportation system.