(BROOME COUNTY, NY) – Broome County Executive Jason Garnar and BC Transit Commissioner Greg Kilmer were joined by New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez and other state and local partners to celebrate the launch of Broome County Transit’s first fully electric buses. The event marked a major milestone in the county’s efforts to modernize its public transportation system, reduce emissions, and strengthen sustainability.
The six new 40-foot GILLIG battery-electric buses were funded primarily through federal and state grants, with nearly 95% of the $10.4 million total project cost supported by outside funding sources. The project received $3.25 million through the Federal Transit Administration’s Low or No Emission Vehicle Program, $4.3 million in federal formula funding, $1.54 million from the New York State Truck Voucher Inventive Program, and $754,000 in state capital funding. Broome County contributed just over $540,000 representing only about 5% of the total project cost.
“Broome County depends on BC Transit to connect our residents to work, school and essential services every day,” said Broome County Executive Jason Garnar. “This investment allows us to modernize our fleet while protecting taxpayers. Nearly 95% of this project was funded through state and federal grants, helping us bring cleaner, quieter, and more reliable transit to the people of Broome County.”
“These six buses represent the first step in the process of moving to clean air propulsion with seven more buses to come in 2026,” said Greg Kilmer, Commissioner of BC Transit. “This exciting moment is made possible by many talented and dedicated individuals who had the vision to legislate, fund, design and build the future of public transportation. I’m certain all the residents of Broome County will appreciate the clean, quiet and efficient operation as we serve thousands of riders daily.”
The new zero-emission buses replace older diesel models, significantly improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the community. The electric buses are also quieter, creating a smoother and more comfortable ride for passengers while minimizing noise pollution in residential neighborhoods.
BC Transit provides more than two million rides annually and operates up to 18 hours each day. Students, faculty, and staff at Binghamton University and SUNY Broome Community College ride BC Transit free with their university-issued IDs, and these new zero-emission buses will make campus trips even cleaner and quieter.
To support the new fleet, BC Transit has installed six Heliox/Siemens 180 kW chargers featuring a retractable arm system that keeps charging cables safely overhead inside the transit depot. Charging infrastructure design and construction was led by the New York Power Authority, with PlugIn Stations Online serving as the contractor. Additional plans call for solar panels and on-site battery storage at the Vestal Transit Center by 2027, ensuring service continuity and energy resiliency.
"Broome County is leading the charge towards a sustainable future with the introduction of its first fleet of zero-emission buses. This milestone underscores the critical importance of electrification in modern transit systems,” said Maribel Cruz-Brown, SVP, Customer Solutions, NYPA. “The Power Authority is proud to support this transformative project with state-of-the-art charging infrastructure and we look forward to continued collaboration on clean energy initiatives, paving the way for an even brighter and greener future."
The six buses, built in California this summer, arrived in Broome County in August after being driven cross-country along a network of electric vehicle charging stations. Their arrival marks the final step before entering service and delivering cleaner, quieter transit for the community.
The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) provided project management and technical support, including oversight during bus production and testing before deployment. CTE will continue to assist BC Transit with monthly performance reports and guide the agency toward its goal of a fully electric fleet by 2035.
“This ribbon cutting represents years of planning and collaboration,” said Steve Clermont, Managing Director of Planning and Deployment at CTE. “Broome County is demonstrating how federal, state, and local partners can work together to bring cutting-edge transportation solutions to communities of all sizes.”
