A Central Coast transit district has received a big financial boost in its efforts to be more environmentally friendly.
The Santa Maria Transit District is getting $6.6 million from the Federal Transit Administration to buy six new electric buses. The goal is to have a zero-emission fleet by 2024.
Santa Maria is getting $22 million in state and federal funding over the next two years to help with the conversion. The city has already ordered two electric buses, but the outside funding will allow the purchase of up to 15 more.
In addition to being more environmentally friendly, converting the bus fleet to all-electric is projected to save about $300,000 a year in operating and maintenance costs.
