Park City, Summit County, Utah (June 2017)—Summit County and Park City have taken a large step forward in environmentally friendly transit with the launch of the Electric Xpress, a new express route served by six new battery-electric buses, the very first of their kind for any mountain town in America. The Electric Xpress is a fare-free, limited-stop route connecting the Kimball Junction Transit Center to the Old Town Transit Center every ten minutes, seven days a week, between 7:00 a.m. and midnight. The official unveiling and inaugural run will take place at the Kimball Junction Transit Center (1899 Ute Boulevard) at 11:00 am on Friday, June 23.
“The Electric Xpress provides clean transportation for western Summit County and helps manage our mountain town traffic in an environmentally responsible way,” Summit County Council Vice-chair Kim Carson said. “We hope this express bus line is just the first of many innovative transit options for our residents and visitors.”
The battery-electric buses dedicated to the Electric Xpress route feature advanced, five-minute rapid charging capability as well as oversized windows, seatback USB power outlets, and free WiFi connections for passengers. Each 40-foot vehicle is wrapped with designs by local Utah artist Dave
Titensor of Titan Design. They portray a variety of athletes, including a competitive road cyclist, mountain biker, snowboarder, alpine ski racer, and the Skeleton.
“We are proud to be leaders in the implementation of Utah’s first fully electric mass-transit fleet,” said Park City Mayor Jack Thomas. “The Electric Xpress service directly supports our ambitious climate goals. It also marks the first phase of the City and County’s Transportation Demand Management Program, which will provide enhanced transit service and reduce congestion throughout the greater Park City community.”
Through partnerships with the Utah Department of Transportation, Summit County, and electric bus manufacturer Proterra, Park City Transit was awarded a $3.9-million grant through the Federal Transit Administration’s “LoNo” program, which funds the purchase of low-to-no-emission vehicles. Park City Transit is the first LoNo grant recipient to make battery-electric buses a reality.
“Because of strong partnerships among stakeholders and a shared vision of making bus-rapid transit a reality, we were able to reach this step a year ahead of our implementation schedule,” said Park City Transit Manager Darren Davis
NET-ZERO BY 2022
Park City and Summit County’s climate goals are some of the most ambitious in the world. All City operations will be net-zero carbon and powered by 100 percent renewable electricity by 2022. These goals expand community-wide by 2032. By transitioning from diesel to battery-electric buses, Park City Transit and its partners are making a powerful statement in moving the City and region closer to the goals/span>
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