Electric Bus to Debut in Brooklyn Center This Summer

Starting this summer, people will have a more environmentally-friendly way to get around the Twin Cities thanks to electric buses.

“This bus here comfortably fits 50 or 60 people,” said Brian Funk, Metro Transit’s Deputy Chief of Operations-Bus. “That’s 50 or 60 cars that are not on the road. That’s a good first step.”

Metro Transit’s new, 60-foot electric bus will debut June 8.

A total of eight electric buses will pick up passengers at the Brooklyn Center Transit Center and take them to downtown Minneapolis via the new C-Line.

Metro Transit officials expect ridership to increase when the electric buses make their debut.

“Right now, the Route 19 is one of our busier routes,” Funk said. “Somewhere in the neighborhood of 5,000 rides a day. We project that by providing that more frequent service for a longer duration, plus the higher amenities — the shelters that have heat, good coverage from rain and snow, cameras, emergency telephones. It’s gonna grow our ridership to around 9,000 a day.”

Metro Transit received a $1.75 million federal grant to help pay for the buses.

Brooklyn Center