The Driving a Cleaner Illinois – Volkswagen award is the largest grant to date from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
MARKHAM, IL – Earlier today, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) joined Pace and the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) at the Pace’s new state-of-the-art Markham Campus Bus Acceptance Facility to celebrate a $27 million award to Pace for the purchase of electric buses and $31.25 million to the RTA (for the Chicago Transit Authority) through “Driving a Cleaner Illinois.” The Driving a Cleaner Illinois – Volkswagen grant opportunity for electric buses to the RTA region are the largest grants that IEPA has announced from the program to date; the previous high was $14 million.
Pace will provide a $9 million match and the RTA will provide a $10.42 million match to the IEPA award. Pace will purchase 27 battery-electric buses (BEBs), and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) will purchase 30-all-electric transit buses to replace the oldest diesel buses in their fleets.
Honored speakers included Governor JB Pritzker, State Senator Napoleon Harris, Markham Mayor Roger Agpawa, IEPA Acting Director James Jennings, RTA Chairman Kirk Dillard, Pace Chairman Rick Kwasneski, and Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger.
Other guests included State Representative Bob Rita, State Representative Matt Hanson, IDOT Acting Secretary Gia Biagi, Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller, Cook County Commissioner Dr. Kisha E. McCaskill, University Park Mayor Joseph Roudez III, and representatives from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth’s Office, U.S. Congresswoman Robin Kelly’s office, State Senator Kyle Hasting’s office, the Village of Robbins, South Suburban Mayors & Managers Association, Chicago Southland Economic Development Council, and South Suburban College.
By transitioning to a zero-emission fleet, our region’s public transportation system aims to significantly reduce harmful pollutants, contributing to healthier communities and a greener future. Pace Chairman Rick Kwasneski welcomed guests and said, “Public transit is more than just buses — it’s about connecting people to jobs, schools, healthcare, and opportunity, and being a good steward of our environment. We are grateful to the Governor’s leadership, which ensures critical, clean energy initiatives move forward."
“Illinoisans of all backgrounds depend on Pace and the CTA. Whether commuting to work, visiting friends and family, or running their everyday errands — the convenience and efficiency of these systems is absolutely essential to their everyday lives,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Pace has added 27 new, fully electric buses – along with 30 that will join the CTA fleet. This is an investment that will help us meet our climate goals, create opportunity for our people, and further connect our communities. Electric buses are vital to the future of transit — clean, reliable, and convenient — and I’m excited to be taking a step toward that future today.”
“Transit is the strongest tool we have in the fight against climate change, and we are grateful for the partnership of the IEPA in leading that fight,” said RTA Board Chair Kirk Dillard. “This investment will improve service and provide cleaner air for Pace and CTA riders in the short term and in the long-term, help us lower greenhouse gas emissions.
“RTA is committed to leading regional grant applications in the future to advance key transit capital priorities for our region,” Dillard continued. “This award from IEPA takes us another step further in meeting our regional commitment of reaching a zero-emissions bus fleet by 2040.”
Driving a Cleaner Illinois is the IEPA’s grant program developed to distribute funding for various types of mobile source electrification projects. The Driving a Cleaner Illinois Program implements funding from a variety of sources, including the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) Program.
“We are thrilled to see this state investment in transit that will allow us to make even greater strides toward our vision of a zero-emission system,” said RTA Executive Director Leanne Redden. “This award not only allows the CTA to make significant progress on greening its bus fleet, but it also helps to enhance service and reliability for all bus riders.”
Grant awards from IEPA to RTA and Pace will be incorporated into the RTA 5-Year Regional Capital Program later this year and future service board bus purchasing plans will incorporate these grants to receive new electric buses in the near future.
“We are grateful to the IEPA and RTA for helping CTA to advance our goal of converting to an all-electric bus fleet — a complex and challenging undertaking that includes replacing 1,800 buses and making the upgrades and capital investments necessary to support them,” said Acting CTA President Nora Leerhsen. “These grant funds will make a significant contribution towards a greener future for CTA as we move ahead with ‘Charging Forward: CTA’s Bus Electrification Planning Report’ — the first-ever roadmap for the full electrification of our entire bus fleet.”
The Illinois EPA has been designated as the lead agency to administer funds allocated to Illinois from the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust. Illinois’ initial allocation of funds is approximately $108 million to be used to fund mobile source diesel emission reduction projects. The funds are to be used for projects that reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides in Illinois.
“Emissions from diesel powered transit buses negatively impact air quality in the communities they serve and the region as a whole,” said Illinois EPA Acting Director James Jennings. “Through the VW settlement funding and additional cost-sharing commitments from both Pace and RTA/CTA, these projects represent a $77 million investment in clean transportation that will benefit communities throughout the Chicago area.”
“This investment will provide climate-friendly transit options that improve mobility and quality of life for people across the region,” said Acting Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi. “Under Governor Pritzker’s leadership, we are working closely with our transit partners to make our entire transportation system safe, reliable, and green.”
“It's refreshing to see how something that began as a challenge for Volkswagen has been turned into a positive force for change, furthering both our region’s and the state’s pollution reduction goals. This transformation underscores the real impact of investing in clean transportation solutions,” said Pace Executive Director Melinda Metzger.
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Pace Suburban Bus safely and efficiently moves people to work, school, and other regional destinations with its family of public transportation services. Pace offers affordable and environmentally responsible transit options for the residents of 274 municipalities in Cook, Will, DuPage, Kane, Lake, and McHenry counties. The backbone of Chicago's suburbs, Pace serves tens of thousands of daily riders. One of the largest bus services in North America, Pace covers 3,677 square miles, an area more than 15 times the size of the City of Chicago. Pace's innovative approach to public transportation gives the agency a national reputation as an industry leader.
