THE COMET awarded $15.75 million federal grant to replace diesel buses with hybrid-electric fleet

Low- or No-Emission Program Funding Advances Sustainable Transit Solutions

The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) has been awarded $15,750,000 through the Federal Transit Administration’s FY25-26 Low- or No-Emission Program, thanks to the efforts of Representative Jim Clyburn and Senator Lindsey Graham. The funding will support The COMET Transit Vehicle Replacement from Diesel to Diesel-Electric Hybrid Project, marking a significant step forward in modernizing the region’s public transit fleet.

The grant will enable The COMET to replace aging diesel buses with state-of-the-art diesel-electric hybrid vehicles that offer improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. Diesel-electric hybrid buses use both electricity and diesel, the same concept as hybrid automobiles. Bus batteries store energy and recharge when the bus decelerates. When demand for power exceeds battery capacity, the diesel engine provides extra energy.

“This substantial federal investment represents a major milestone in our efforts to modernize our fleet and advance environmentally sustainable transit solutions for our community,” said Maurice Pearl, Executive Director/CEO of The COMET. “We are grateful to Representative Clyburn, Senator Graham and the Federal Transit Administration for their support in helping us provide cleaner, more efficient service to the residents of the Midlands.”

The hybrid buses require no additional infrastructure beyond The COMET’s existing facilities, allowing for seamless integration into current operations while delivering immediate environmental and operational benefits.

This award aligns with The COMET’s ongoing commitment to improving service efficiency, reducing the transit system’s carbon footprint, and providing reliable, sustainable transportation options throughout Richland and eastern Lexington Counties.

The COMET will provide updates on project implementation and milestones as the fleet replacement program moves forward.

For more information about The COMET’s services, visit www.catchthecometsc.gov or follow @catchthecomet on social media.

About The COMET 

The COMET is a service of the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority and provides countywide public transit services on 34 fixed routes, USC Transit, OnDemand/ReFlex services, vanpool service for commuters, subsidy programs with Uber and Lyft and DART for transportation to grocery stores and at night, ADA complementary paratransit service throughout Richland and eastern Lexington Counties. The COMET transports approximately 2.1 million passenger trips a year on a fleet of more than 80 buses and vans. Transit services are provided under contract with RATP Dev USA, Enterprise Holdings, Lyft, and Uber. For additional The COMET information, please call (803) 255-7100, TDD/TTY: 711 through the relay service, email: [email protected] or visit www.catchthecometsc.gov.

Catch The COMET…We Will Take You There!