FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: 01/19/2022 Contact: Darian Nagle-Gamm, Transportation Director Phone: 319-356-5156
Iowa City Transit takes climate action to the streets, rolling out 4 new electric buses Jan 24
Beginning Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, Iowa City Transit will introduce four electric buses to the streets of Iowa City, purchased with the assistance of a $3.3 million in Federal Transit Administration and Iowa DOT grants. As part of several major changes to Iowa City Transit in the past year, this launch will have an immediate environmental impact.
The buses will be able to travel over 300 miles on a single charge. They also run more quietly than a diesel bus, drastically reducing noise pollution.
This purchase aligns with the City’s Climate Action Plan, which identifies embracing electric vehicles and increasing transit use as important strategies to meet Iowa City’s climate goals. As of the most recent greenhouse gas inventory, 22 percent of the City’s greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation.
“This addition provides the improvements needed to make Transit more attractive for the community, while also helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Transportation Director Darian Nagle-Gamm. “We’re really excited to move Iowa City Transit forward to the future.”
To begin, the new buses will be used on the Downtown Shuttle and Oakcrest routes. The new vehicles will be moved to other routes in the upcoming weeks. All routes except the 10 – West Iowa City will pilot the buses this winter or spring. The 10 – West Iowa City route has a low-clearance railroad bridge on Iowa Avenue that the electric buses cannot fit under at this time.
Use the Transit App to find your route
Individuals can download the Transit App to find their bus, receive predicted arrival times, and important service messages for their favorite routes. Those with questions can call Iowa City Transit at 319-356-5151, email at ICTransit@iowa-city.org, or visit icgov.org/transit.
Face Mask Required
The Federal Mask Requirement for Transit remains in effect, requiring passengers to wear a face-covering while traveling on any public transit vehicles, including Iowa City Transit, to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. The Transportation Security Administration has extended this rule through March 18, 2022.
