GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The Rapid’s board of directors has approved the purchase of eight natural gas-powered buses, marking one of the final steps toward the transportation network’s transition away from diesel fuel.
The eight new buses — a combination of replacement compressed natural gas and renewable natural gas buses — will replace The Rapid’s three remaining fully diesel-dependent buses along with five hybrid buses that have reached the end of their “useful life benchmark,” according to the Federal Transit Administration.
Electric buses ready to hit the road for GRPS
The buses are scheduled to hit the roads in July 2027, marking the completion of The Rapid’s transition away from fully diesel-powered buses along its fixed-route service, according to a statement. At that point, The Rapid’s fleet will increase to 139 natural gas-powered vehicles and five diesel-electric hybrid vehicles.
The replacement project is expected to cost about $8 million. It will be funded by a federal grant and matching state dollars, The Rapid said in a statement…