Transpo is focused on launching LRT, but mayor's election promise requires attention on electric buses

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, June 15, 2019

Researching electric buses for OC Transpo’s fleet would be redundant, expensive and time-consuming for a department fixated on delivering more than $6 billion in LRT infrastructure, but Mayor Jim Watson had a campaign promise, so staff will work toward buying one or more of the transit vehicles within the next three years.

At the beginning of May, Transpo wasn’t keen on an electric bus pilot project, judging by a written response to Coun. Catherine McKenney.

This week, staff didn’t raise any concerns when council unanimously voted for a Watson proposal to get a plan on the table of the transit commission in seven days.

On introducing electric buses this term, Watson said during a council meeting last Wednesday, “That’s my goal and that’s the commitment I made to the people of Ottawa.”

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/transpo-is-focused-on-launching-lrt-but-mayors-election-promise-requires-attention-on-electric-buses

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