Chattanooga’s public transit system got a whole lot greener.
Last year, the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority got two new 35-foot hybrid electric buses powered by clean-diesel and electric motors. The buses cost about $500,000 each, compared to $300,000 for a traditional diesel-powered bus, CARTA officials said.
“It will be our bus of the future,” said Tom Dugan, executive director of CARTA. “It’s a natural progression to be greener.”
He said the hybrid buses mark a continuation of green policies, first started in 1992 with the purchase of the electric shuttles.
CARTA also received $650,000 in federal money for more energy-efficient lighting at parking garages and other buildings.