Wave Transit gets $3.6M grant to buy more buses

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Getting around the Cape Fear will be getting a little easier soon. Wave Transit will be adding some new buses to its fleet thanks to a federal grant.

Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority (Wave Transit) was awarded $3,600,000 by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration.

The money will be used to buy of nine compressed natural gas buses over the next 26 months.

The grant is part of a larger effort by the federal agency to improve the safety and reliability of the country’s bus systems.

Authority Chairman Bill Bryden stated “Wave Transit is the only mode of transportation for many in Southeastern North Carolina and new buses will dramatically improve reliability for our 1.4 million annual passengers. The award will allow the Authority to continue its diesel bus replacement program with environmentally friendly and efficient compressed natural gas buses.”

According to Authority Executive Director Albert Eby, “Forty eight percent of Wave Transit buses have exceeded their useful life of twelve years or 500,000 miles. This important infrastructure investment will allow the Authority to purchase new buses that are less expensive to maintain, more reliable, dramatically improve air quality, and offer our passengers a better commuting experience. ”

The Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority was created in 2004 by the Wilmington City Council and New Hanover County Commissioners to serve the public transportation needs of Southeastern North Carolina.

Wave Transit provides quality public transportation services from northern Brunswick County to southern New Hanover County.