Augusta Transit gets $12 million to buy 6 more electric buses

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta is getting some federal money to boost its fleet of electric buses.

Augusta Transit announced Tuesday that the Federal Transit Administration awarded the agency a $12 million grant to purchase six clean-energy battery electric buses, charging equipment and infrastructure, and a bus simulator to train employees.

This comes two years after the city won a $6 million grant to buy five electric buses that are set for delivery in 2025.

The next six buses from this latest grant will arrive in 2027.

They’ll join six new diesel buses purchased through an even earlier grant and delivered a year ago.

Just days ago, the agency got a $1.7 million grant to design a new “state of the art” transfer facility.

The $12 million grant, together with a local match of $2 million, will let Augusta Transit replace and upgrade aging buses and strengthen workforce development with the training simulator, the agency said.

This grant is the largest single federal award in Augusta Transit’s 50-year history and was a joint effort between project partners GILLIG, EO Charging Inc., FAAC Inc., and the Center for Transportation and Environment, as well as Augusta’s Office of the Administrator.

GILLIG is the supplier of the five earlier electric buses as well as the diesel ones.

“We appreciate all the support shown for Augusta Transit as we continue to improve transit service for the future,” Augusta Transit Director Sharon Dottery said.

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