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U.S. DOT Giving Star Metro A Million-Dollar Re-Charge

Proterra

Tallahassee officials are eagerly anticipating a million-dollar federal grant they hope to translate to a breath of fresh air.

Star Metro is one of five agencies in Florida getting U.S. Department of Transportation dollars to pay for emission-free electric busses.

Mayor Andrew Gillum says it’s a way to shrink the city’s carbon footprint and encourage mass transit.

“We’re looking to replace some of our aging diesel busses with a 35-foot Proterra Catalyst, which is a fast-charge, battery electric bus.”

The other Florida winners are Jacksonville, Gainesville, and Pinellas, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties.

A Miami native, former WFSU reporter Jim Ash is an award-winning journalist with more than 20 years of experience, most of it in print. He has been a member of the Florida Capital Press Corps since 1992.