Join us on Monday, October 18, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at the Wickliffe Park-n-Ride at 29551 Lakeland Blvd., Wickliffe, OH 44092

Laketran celebrates deployment of ten zero-emissions electric buses, operating the lowest polluting and most energy efficient transit vehicles in northeast Ohio. Wickliffe Transit Center brings new technology to the Midwest with en-route charging infrastructure allowing continuous charging while electric buses operate throughout the day.  Dedication of the transit center with charging demonstration will be Monday, October 18 at 10:00 a.m.

Lake County, OH – Laketran has deploy ten 35-foot New Flyer xcelsior CHARGE electric transit bus this fall transitioning 60% of its local route bus fleet to zero emission vehicles. Laketran is using the industry’s leading ABB en-route fast charging system that allows buses to charge throughout the day, without returning to base for traditional depot charging.

On Monday, October 18 at 10:00 a.m., Laketran will host a community celebration for the deployment of their battery-operated electric bus fleet and dedication of the Wickliffe Transit Center located at the Wickliffe Park-n-Ride at 29551 Lakeland Blvd. Wickliffe, OH 44092.

“Laketran is committed to making public transportation in Lake County a model of sustainable practices. Today, we are improving the transit experience for our riders, while operating the cleanest and most efficient transportation in the state.  We’re reducing emissions and noise pollution while saving thousands in fuel and maintenance costs,” shared Brian Falkowski, Laketran’s Board President. “We’re excited to bring the transit industry’s latest technology to the Lake County and the region.”

Wickliffe Park-n-Ride renovation

Laketran has transformed the Wickliffe Park-n-Ride into a modern transit hub with a parking lot renovation, construction of a multi-modal transit center that provides indoor and outdoor waiting areas with charging stations, public restrooms, real-time route information, bike racks, and Wi-Fi.

The Park-n-Ride lot offers four public-access electric vehicle charging stations and en-route electric bus infrastructure allowing the Laketran to electrify the local fixed routes that operate from the transit center.

Laketran also operates daily commuter express service from the Park-n-Ride between western Lake County and downtown Cleveland.

Competitive grant programs from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) primarily funded the $2.3 million transportation infrastructure project.

The parking lot reconstruction and transit center was designed and engineered by Mentor-based CT Consultants and Tec, Inc. from Willoughby and constructed by JTO of Mentor and Engelke Construction Solutions of Brunswick. Other local firms involved in construction were project electricians V.L. Chapman of Grand River and Zenith Systems of Bedford.

Laketran’s Electric Bus program

Laketran’s $11.7 million investment in ten zero-emission electric buses and electric vehicle-charging infrastructure is the largest investment in clean transportation for Northeast Ohio.

In addition to the replacement of diesel buses with zero emission electric vehicles, Laketran is in the process of installing six ABB fast chargers that allows for en-route charging vehicle charging.

Various Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant programs aimed to reduce diesel emissions and improve air quality and public transit access are funding Laketran’s electric buses and charging infrastructure program.

“We’re replacing 12 year old diesel engines with a vehicle that is powered by a battery pack. This means no diesel fuel, no oil changes, no combustion engine replacements or exhaust systems to maintain,” shared Laketran CEO Ben Capelle. “We’re very conscious of the impact transportation has on the environment and we’re committed to improving the air quality in Northeast Ohio.”

With support from U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown and Congressman David Joyce, Laketran secured several competitive federal grants through the Federal Transit Administration to fund the Park-n-Ride renovation, charging infrastructure and its battery-operated electric fleet conversion to bring modern electric bus technology to Northeast Ohio.

“I would like to thank U.S. Senator Brown’s office, the Ohio EPA, NOACA and our local community partners for their letters of support that helped Laketran provide competitive grant applications to support our electric bus conversion program,” expressed Capelle.

Event details: https://laketran.com/wickliffe-park-n-ride-updates/

Photos available at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1kxCC4PXOznYMa1Ukx7wsv4xMAvqYLsji?usp=sharing