Last Spring the MBTA proposed replacing the route 71 and 73 trolley buses with overnight-charging (ONC) battery-electric buses that use diesel for heating. Replacing these buses with ONC buses does nothing to address two goals of the MBTA: It neither reduces greenhouse emissions, nor does it address issues of environmental justice.. This is a step backwards.
Many of us have spoken up at MBTA planning meetings and urged the MBTA to consider keeping the overhead lines and moving toward In-Motion charging buses.
Join Steve Owens, Senator Will Brownsberger, Representative Dave Rogers & Senator Pat Jehlen for an information session with the MBTA on their plans to change the trackless trolleybuses that currently serve as the 71 and 73 bus routes to hybrid electric-diesel buses.
Watertown Environment and Energy Efficiency Committee (WE3C) has taken the lead in opposing the plan to replace the trolleys and permanently remove the overhead wires without more analysis and consideration of alternatives.
READ THE WE3C LETTER here