Sault purchasing two electric buses as part of transit upgrades
The City of Sault Ste. Marie will be making some transit upgrades – including the purchase of two battery-powered buses.
City officials said it marks the beginning of the electrification of the transit fleet.
Municipal politicians and city staff in Sault Ste. Marie were joined by representatives of both the federal and provincial governments to announce a combined investment of $7.8 million in local transit on March 8, 2024. (X/Matthew Shoemaker)The transit upgrades will be paid for through a combined investment of $7.8 million – with a federal contribution of roughly $3.1 million, provincial funds to the tune of $2.5 million and the city kicking in just over $2 million.
Brent Lamming, the city’s director of community services said some preparation will be needed before the first electric bus is put into service.
“We’ll have staff trained on how to service the electric bus versus a conventional diesel bus,” he said.
“Then we’ll deploy that in a safe fashion, likely on a day shift and see how it performs in the conditions here in Sault Ste. Marie.”
Lamming told CTV News that charging stations will need to be installed at the transit garage especially as the city moves toward full electrification.
“We’ll be working together with the PUC to have a much larger power source for the facility here to convert our fleet as we move forward,” he said.
“We’ll ramp up procurement as the years come toward electrification once we have it in service here and proven to be successful.”
Mayor Matthew Shoemaker said the city will ensure the electric buses are able to run in all weather conditions and he suggests there will still be a place for gas-powered buses.
“This is the beginning of a transition to electric buses,” he said.
“But – we’ll be sure that the transit system can operate in all conditions moving forward.”
- Download the CTV News app now
- Get local breaking news alerts
- Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox
Representatives of both the federal and provincial governments were on hand to tout the economic and environmental benefits of electrification.
“The more we can electrify a lot of the equipment that we use, the better it is for the environment, and the better it is for our economy,” said Sault Ste. Marie MPP Ross Romano.
“Sault Ste. Marie is leading Canada in so many ways, whether it’s the electrification of Algoma Steel, the beginning of electrification of our transit fleet,” said Sault Ste. Marie MP Terry Sheehan.
Other upgrades include the purchasing of eight accessible passenger vans and two ‘parabuses,’ which are primarily used by people with mobility challenges.
City staff said when the new vehicles will be deployed will depend on the length of the procurement process.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
‘We made them safer and more fun’: Here’s what’s new about e-scooters
Electric scooters (e-scooters) have been gaining popularity in the capital and this season comes with some changes and updates.