DART to get new eco-friendly buses in 2017

Most people are pretty familiar with public transportation, taking a train or riding on a bus. Speaking of busses, DART will be adding 6 new ones come next year, but not just any type of bus. These new busses will release zero emissions and they will be completely battery operated.

Just to give a little taste of what people can expect, DART borrowed a bus from another company and offered rides around the city of Dover on Thursday. 47 ABC spoke with John Sisson, CEO of Delaware Transit Corp and he says, “This is awesome for the city of Dover, the capital, the first state to fulfill the governors mission on reducing environmental emissions.”

DART’s new buses will be funded through a federal grant and Sisson says once everything is finalized, they’ll put their order in. They are expected to be on Dover streets by the middle of next year. Sisson says the buses will drive all around Kent county and go back to transit center when they need to be charged.

Sisson tells 47 ABC, “So a 5 to 10 minute period they can charge and stay out on the street all day long.” He says far as the feedback so far? “Everyone’s been really positive loving the trip, like the look of the bus, quiet, so everything’s great.”

Also on hand Thursday, Susan Love of DNREC who says these buses will benefit Delaware in more ways than one. Love tells 47 ABC, “They’re cleaner, they’re more efficient, they save money so all of these things are a win for the state of Delaware and its residents and the riders of dart buses. This is a huge step forward for us in reducing greenhouse gases and helping the state prepare for climate change impacts in our state.”

If you want to check out the bus, it will be in Rehoboth Beach on Friday at 10 AM offering rides.