Mendocino Transit Authority Continues its transition to electric-powered public bus service in Mendocino County with a new all-electric Gillig 35’ bus serving the city of Ukiah starting May 5th on the local route 9.
The 32-passenger bus provides local service and can transport up to two wheelchairs and has a bike rack that holds two bicycles.
“This project has been a long time coming” said MTA Executive Director Jacob King. “We started this project in late 2020 and the pandemic set us back. This is the third electric bus in the MTA fleet. The first two have served the Willits community since 2022 and are 16 passenger cutaway style.”
By this time next year, King expects there will be five more electric buses, two slated for Route 5 service on Fort Bragg’s city route, and there are three more buses that will serve Ukiah and MTA is applying for funding to buy more replacement vehicles and accompanying charging infrastructure.
The other environmental benefit is that “electric buses are quiet, “King said. “The only thing you may hear is the crunching of gravel under the tires. We expect it will be a pleasant and healthy experience for our passengers.”
The Gillig electric bus was purchased using federal funds with help from Caltrans and is replacing a diesel-powered bus of a larger size.
When it was established in 1976, MTA’s mission statement included a move toward carbon-neutral public transportation. It tried propane-powered buses in the past to reduce emissions and then embraced solar power and electric buses.
“We’ve been planning and transitioning to renewable energy and clean electric buses for more than 10 years, starting with our solar electric generation system at the Ukiah headquarters and now bus charging stations at our bus yards.”
King said he’s continuing MTA’s legacy focus upon clean public transit.
Special thanks to the MTA Board of Directors, Mendocino Council of Governments and Gillig.
Mendocino Transit Authority provides safe, courteous, reliable, affordable, and carbon-neutral public transportation throughout Mendocino County. Visit mendocinotransit.org for routes, schedules and fare information.
