CARTA

CARTA is receiving $2.56 million in federal funds to buy three energy efficient electric buses for its fleet, according to a news release from U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

The project was among 46 in the nation chosen from 266 applications. Chattanooga was the only city in Tennessee to get funding from the Federal Transit Administration's Transit Investment in Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) III Grant Program, according to the release.

In the release, LaHood said the money will help the nation reduce oil dependence and create a "marketplace" for green jobs.

The all-electric, zero-emission buses will be equipped with a wayside inductive power transfer system which allows them to recharge their batteries from embedded electric coils while operating on regular fixed routes.

For complete coverage, see Friday's Times Free Press.