Two new EV buses and extended multi-use path set for Tecumseh

The Town of Tecumseh will replace both of its diesel buses with electric vehicles and install an electric charging station, officials announced Wednesday.

An additional 2.5 kilometres of multi-use pathways are also being added to the town's current 30 kilometres of paths.

The announcement was made by Mayor Gary Mcnamara and MP Irek Kusmierczyk (L—windsor-tecumseh) at a news conference at Healthy Mama restaurant and food shop.

The buses must go through a request-for-proposal process and will likely be in place sometime in 2024.

“I believe strongly in climate change and I believe that as a community that has experienced backto-back devastating floods, as we did here in Tecumseh and in Windsor, we have a responsibility to reduce the emissions that are driving climate change,” Kusmierczyk said during the announcement.

“We have a historic opportunity to lead Canada in the transition to zero-emission vehicles by greening our fleets and by building electric batteries and vehicles.”

Mcnamara stressed the need for environmental responsibility by Tecumseh.

“We want to reduce our carbon footprint in the municipality,” he said. “What better example than we're showing our residents that we're serious about it?”

The federal government is providing almost $3.7 million to electrify Tecumseh's bus fleet and expand its active transportation pathways. Tecumseh will spend about $2 million, Mcnamara said.

The buses won't have a major impact on the transportation budget, but it does set the town on a course of environmental change, Mcnamara said.

“It doesn't affect our budget that much … we're sending that message to our residents that Tecumseh is green.”

The buses will be about the same size as current buses. The new paths will be built along Lesperance Road from Riverside Drive to First Street, and on Little River Boulevard from Lesperance Road to the entrance of Windsor's trail system on Gauthier Street.

The federal government's funding comes from its Rural Transit Solutions and Active Transportation funds.

BRIAN MACLEOD Tecumseh Coun. Brian Houston (Ward 4), left, Joe Bachetti, (deputy mayor), Coun. Alicia Higgison (Ward 1), Mayor Gary Mcnamara and MP Irek Kusmierczyk (Windsor-tecumseh — Liberal) were on hand this week to discuss funding to purchase two EV buses and a charging station and install 2.5 kilometres of pathways in the town.