BATA Showcases the Power of Green Public Transportation for Earth Week

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

 

DATE:            April 21, 2025

CONTACT:        Eric Lingaur lingaure@bata.net 231-933-5534 or 734-968-6210

                                               

 

BATA Showcases the Power of Green Public Transportation for Earth Week

 

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — For Earth Week 2025, the Bay Area Transportation Authority is highlighting its role as a regional leader in green energy and sustainability. BATA continues to focus on providing essential transportation while lowering the agency’s environmental footprint. In April BATA added two more electric vans to its vehicle fleet and has started the installation of approximately 600 solar panels to the roof of its new operations headquarters located on the corner of Hammond and LaFranier Roads in Traverse City.

 

Electric Vans

With the addition of two new Ford e-Transit vans BATA’s electric vehicle fleet now consists of six vehicles. The new vans are equipped with mobility lifts for transporting wheelchairs. BATA has been running electric vans for more than a year and has been seeing solid performance averaging around 120 miles per charge depending on the weather. Other features of the electric vans include:

  • Seating for up to 10 passengers with ADA accessible versions being able to accommodate up two wheelchairs each
  • Smooth and quiet ride
  • Regenerative braking system
  • Onboard telematics to track battery life in real-time
  • According to Ford, each Ford e-Transit van has a lifetime savings of 55 metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to an internal combustion engine Ford Transit. That’s equivalent to 6,189 gallons of gasoline saved.

 

“BATA continues to look for ways to be more environmentally friendly incorporating green technologies into all facets of the organization,” said Chris Davis, BATA Interim Executive Director. “Whether its solar panels, alternative powered vehicles or just getting a few more cars off the road, BATA is dedicated to helping make the community it serves greener.”

 

EV Chargers

EV chargers are in the process of being procured for BATA’s new operations headquarters and fast EV chargers are also being installed at BATA’s Hall Street Transfer Station for the purpose of charging buses mid route. BATA also received a $5,000 grant from the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation in 2024 to install EV chargers at its new LaFranier Park-n-Ride transfer point for public use and promote the free 40+ space Park-n-Ride lot which should be installed later this summer.

 

Solar Power

In the Fall of 2024 (BATA) received a $795,673 grant from the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) to install more than 600 solar panels on the roof of BATA’s new Operations Headquarters.  Keen Energy Inc. was selected as the solar vendor and installation has started and will be completed by the end of May or early June. Benefits of the solar project include:

  • $60,000 in annual estimated recurring electrical utility savings
  • 320 kw of electricity will be generated for use by BATA with any excess returning to the grid
  • 260 tons of estimated carbon dioxide and 1 ton of sulfur dioxide removed from Michigan’s air, land and water, which is equivalent to removing 64 vehicles from roadways

 

Other green features of BATA’s new HQ and operations include:

  • Windows – plenty of low and high windows throughout office areas to allow for natural sunlight / improves employee performance while also reducing the need to turn lights on and off
  • LED lighting throughout with occupancy sensors that automatically turn off lights when no one is in a room
  • High speed overhead doors in the bus garage – minimizing heat loss during cold temperatures
  • Insulated precast concrete wall panels as part of the bus storage garage improving HVAC performance
  • On site bus wash bay that reclaims water for reuse limiting water consumption
  • BATA continues to operate 65% of its fleet with low or no emission vehicles by utilizing 46 propane powered vehicles along with the fleet of 6 EV vans
  • There are 21 solar powered shelters throughout BATA’s network

 

“Using public transportation is a great way to shrink your own carbon footprint. By sharing a ride with friends and neighbors it benefits our local community with cleaner air and water and reduces our region's impact on climate change,” said Eric Lingaur, BATA Director of Communications and Development. “Changing individual habits can make a big impact on our environment, and Earth Week is a great time to explore how we can incorporate public transportation into our routines.”

 

Environmental Benefits of Public Transit

According to the 2021 UCLA report on the 5 Environmental Benefits of Sustainable Transportation, public transit makes a positive impact on the environment and the climate by helping reduce pollution, create healthier communities and reducing the number of cars on the road. Learn more about the benefits of public transit and how it directly makes a positive impact on the environment by saving fuel, lowering an individual’s carbon footprint and by reducing vehicle congestion on area roadways by visiting www.bata.net/green.

 

# # #

 

About BATA

The Bay Area Transportation Authority (BATA) provides more than 400,000 rides per year, connecting the residents and guests of Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties to work, school, shopping, recreational activities, and to each other. Services include dedicated routes and fixed stops within Traverse City (City Loop), regular service along the Bays (Bayline), regular connections to outlying communities (Village Loop), and on-demand transportation (Link.) For more information or help planning your trip, visit bata.net or call 231.941.2324.