Purchase of Battery Electric Paratransit Vans Approved

The Bi-State Development Board of Commissioners has approved a five-year contract with Central States Bus Sales, Inc., for the purchase of battery electric paratransit vans. This $1.5 million investment will add approximately five, 14-passenger vans with ADA-compliant lifts to St. Clair County Transit District’s (SCCTD) fleet. These will reduce emissions, while also helping to right-size its vehicle offerings to meet the growing demand for SCCTD’s micro transit service in lieu of low-ridership fixed routes.

“Young adults have a different expectation on service delivery and a broader expectation for protecting the environment for future generations,” stated Ken Sharkey, managing director of SCCTD. “SCCTD is always exploring how to best utilize new technologies to improve the overall experience for transit riders   – and these new vehicles will help in this pursuit.”

The cost of the new vans will be covered by Illinois Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funding and SCCTD.

SCCTD contracts with Bi-State Development to provide public transportation services in St. Clair County, Ill., by way of 11 MetroLink stations and 14 MetroBus routes and with Southwestern Illinois College to offer paratransit services as well as on-demand, micro transit via the SCCTD Flyer in seven communities.