July 1 marked the maiden voyage of the Macon-Bibb County Transit Authority’s newest electric bus, emblazoned with the American flag and the words “Celebrating 250 years of freedom.”
“It’s breathtaking to me,” MBCTA CEO Craig Ross told the authority’s board Tuesday evening.
The 30-foot patriotic bus is one of the authority’s six new electric buses, including two others that have special significance.
One is wrapped in pink blooms in tribute to the city’s International Cherry Blossom Festival, and the other is decorated in honor of the county’s first responders.
On the driver’s side is a near life-sized Macon-Bibb County Fire Engine No. 9, while a Bibb County Sheriff’s patrol car covers the other side, and an Atrium Health Navicent ambulance stares down drivers from the rear of the bus.
Board Chair Louis Tompkins encouraged new board member Kaylee Pruitt, of BikeWalk Macon, and others to provide input on future designs to “represent what you feel was good and proper, and represent your constituents in certain things in the city.”
The board officially approved the $2.8 million to bus manufacturer BYD for three of the buses that arrived in April.
The federal government funds 80% of the transit authority’s fleet, with state and local governments dividing the remaining 20%.
These latest buses move the authority a step closer to its 2030 goal of having all electric buses on its fixed routes, but the authority plans to return to purchasing gas-powered vans for Paratransit and Rapid Transit.
The authority recently put two more electric paratransit vans in service, bringing the total to 14 electric paratransit vehicles, 24 electric fixed-route buses and four electric Rapid Transit vans.
Paratransit rider Wade Horton again complained about ineffective air conditioning and no way to open windows on the electric buses. Recently, it was so bad Horton said he asked the driver to take him back home so he could cool off.
Ross admits it is difficult to keep those electric vans chilled in the summer heat.
Studies show that temperatures of 95 degrees and hotter can reduce an electrical vehicle’s driving range by about 15%, leading experts to advise running the AC sparingly, or cooling the vehicle while it is still plugged into the charger.
“It is virtually impossible to keep the vans cool when the temperature reaches 90+ degrees and a heat index of 100+ degrees,” Ross said.
With Paratransit vans on the road 16 hours each weekday and 14 hours on Saturdays, the air conditioning is running continually and cool air escapes when a door opens.
“We repair air conditioners in-house as (problems) occur, so there is no lag time with making repairs,” Ross said.
Following the allocation of grant funds for six electric Rapid Transit vans through Congressional Discretionary Funds out of Sen. Jon Ossoff’s office, the authority will be returning to gas-powered vehicles for Paratransit and Rapid Transit, Ross said.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Ross also announced the authority will no longer be cross-purposing the Paratransit and Rapid Transit vans.
“Rapid Transit is going to carry Rapid Transit. Paratransit is going to take Paratransit. So we’re not going to co-mingle the two, unless it is absolutely necessary,” Ross said.
Wednesday also marked the beginning of Rapid Transit service to east Macon’s industrial sector and out Zebulon Road into northwest parts of the county.
Rapid Transit is an app-led service similar to Uber where riders can summon a vehicle for a ride within the county for $5 during the day and $8 in the evening.
On July 30, the authority will host its Community Services Fair from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Terminal Station with a Celebrity Story and Song Hour for the kids from 11 a.m. until noon.
At the Transfer Station on Fifth Street at 9:30 a.m. that Thursday, Middle Georgia Regional Library representatives will attend a ribbon cutting for the new Downtown Bus Station Book Locker.
After the ceremony, anyone with a PINES library card will be able to request books and resources from the library and use a code to retrieve them from the lockers.
—Peyton Anderson Civic Journalism Senior Fellow Liz Fabian covers Macon-Bibb County government entities and can be reached at [email protected] or 478-301-2976.
