New Electric Buses to arrive in Seneca soon

You may have noticed the new blue and gold-striped CAT bus riding around Seneca.  This new all-electric CAT bus built by Proterra is conducting test runs on the new charging stations in the city, like the one on Railroad Street below Norton-Thompson Park.  Seneca Mayor Pro-tem Ronnie O’Kelley gives details. “They are really good looking; they are blue and gold and just happen to have CATS written on the side.  They have to go through a test series before they can actually be put on the road.  I think our ridership is up to about 28,000 a month, that is a lot of people riding these buses.  So, we are excited about them coming and we are excited about being one of the only cities in America to have it.” The entire fleet of four all-electric CAT buses is due in Seneca by early December.  When operational, Seneca will become the only American city to operate an all-electric, fare-free, public transit system, adds Mayor Pro-tem O’Kelley. “It is really going to enhance the bus system as we know it.  Seeing the electric charge and how quick they can charge those buses is amazing.  No more diesel and no more diesel smell, everything about it is a positive but the main thing is the ridership and there is a definitely a demand for the bus.” For the first few weeks, the electric buses will follow a gas-powered bus to make sure there are no problems.