Madison Metro Transit named 2024 Climate Champion ahead of electric bus launch
Metro’s current buses use over 5,600 gallons of diesel each year. But in just ten days, one third of the fleet will include 60-foot all electric buses.
By Mackenzie Davis
Published: Sep. 12, 2024 at 3:33 PM CDT|Updated: Sep. 12, 2024 at 7:23 PM CDT
MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - Last month, 32 Dane County entities were recognized for their work in reducing carbon emissions.
Dane County Executive Jamie Kuhn and the Office of Energy and Climate Change (OECC) recognized 32 local entities for leading on climate action through the Dane County Climate Champions program.
One of those champions is Madison Metro Transit for their efforts to upgrade Madison’s city bus fleet with 62 new electric buses.
“We’re very excited about it,” Madison Metro Transit’s Chief Development Officer Mick Rusch said. “This is going to save us a lot of diesel fuel.”
Metro’s current buses use over 5,600 gallons of diesel each year. But in just ten days, one third of the fleet will include 60-foot all electric buses.
“It allows us the opportunity to basically be one of the largest electric bus fleets in the country, certainly for cities our size,” Madison Metro Transit’s General Manager Justin Stuehrenberg said,
Stuehrenberg says passengers will notice a difference. The buses will be very quiet, smooth and comfortable.
“We are really excited for the operational benefits for most of the passengers and the operators,” he said.
But the new buses will not just benefit passengers.
“It’s great. Real easy. It’s a piece of cake,” Clinton Boone said about driving the new bus.
Boone says he has been a bus driver and instructor for over 20 years and that these new electric buses are the reason he’s still on the roads.
“I was not going to retire until I drove this so right now, I’m pretty much happy I got a chance to drive it,” he said.
The county-wide climate recognition continues to put Madison on the map when it comes to sustainability.
“It’s a great recognition of the work that Metro is doing to not only reduce their climate pollution footprint, but to help the community overall reduce our collective climate pollution footprint,” Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said.
Rusch says there will also be a new smart card fare system.
“A machine where you can just buy your fare right there or you can load it online which is something new for us where you can get loaded online. And next year, you’re going to be able to just use your credit card right on the bus. So, if someone wants to give us a try, you don’t even have to go get a fare card, you can just go on with your Apple Pay, Google Pay or tap credit card,” he said.
Making it that much easier to ride the buses.
“We hope we’re providing a great product that will make people thing twice about driving their car,” Rusch said.
Details on the Sept. 22, 2024 Bus Rapid Transit launch can be found here.
To learn more about the 2024 Climate Champion recipients, visit the Dane County Office of Energy and Climate Change website and the related Climate Champions map.