'It is more critical than ever': METRO inks electric bus contract with Canadian company

Seeking to help mitigate the problems presented by climate change in Houston, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, or METRO has entered into an agreement to purchase electric buses (EBs) from Saint-Eustache, Canada-based Nova Bus.

According to the website InnovationMap, the $22 million contract calls for Nova Bus to produce a fleet of 20 battery-powered EBs. 

The agreement includes an option for METRO to buy 20 more.

Before she stepped down as chair of METRO's board of directors after being nominated U.S. ambassador to Iceland by President Joe Biden, Houston attorney Carrin Patman said that METRO has made addressing the dire effects of climate change a priority. 

“METRO is paying close attention to the climate assessments showing Houston will grapple with rising temperatures and more frequent weather events," Patman said, InnovationMap reported. "It is more critical than ever that METRO map out a plan to not only prepare for these events but to mitigate the impact they have on our community as much as we can.”

The new buses will be received from a Nova facility in Plattsburgh, New York and launched into service at least later this year, the website reported.

They'll ply the 402 Bellaire Express and 28 OST-Wayside routes.

The Houston-based public transit agency has made it a goal to buy online zero-emission buses within the next eight years.

As a member of the Automated Bus Consortium, METRO wants to boast a fleet of more than 1,200 EBs.

“The impact of climate change is a significant threat to the health and safety of our community," METRO board member and Houston mayoral candidate Chris Hollins said, according to InnovationMap. “METRO can and will be a leader in helping the region respond to this challenge.”