On behalf of Best Friends of Lowcountry Transit, I am signing this petition to indicate my support for the Lowcountry Rapid Transit Corridors Bus Electrification application submitted by the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (BCDCOG) in response to the Federal Transit Administration FY2018 Low or No (Low-No) Emissions Vehicle Grant Program to purchase battery electric buses for use by CARTA.
I support BCDCOG's application and partnership with SC Electric Bus Manufacturer Proterra to transition the entire fleet of twenty (20) model year 1996 diesel transit buses operated by the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) to zero emission, all-electric buses. Allowing more of the four million rides per year now being taken on CARTA to take place on zero emission buses made in the United states will improve air quality here and reduce fuel consumption. Carbon emissions are contributing to sea level rise here which threatens the survival of our city's historic core and must be reduced. Electric vehicles will also reduce the agencies operating and maintenance costs, while improving the reliability of the service on which our Region's workforce relies to access employment. I believe this effort will also help stimulate wind and solar power development here.
I urge you to approve the application and help put Proterra electric buses made in Greenville, SC on the road in the SC Lowcountry.
