Burlington County Commissioner Randy Brolo is in the driver’s seat of one of the 10 new electric buses acquired by the Burlington County Special Services School District.
A new fleet of electric-powered buses will soon transport Burlington County Special Services School students.
The county commissioners joined district officials and a state legislator for a ribbon-cutting on Oct. 29 to celebrate the addition of 10 electric buses and five charging stations at the district’s Westampton campus. The upgrade to cleaner, environmentally friendly vehicles is expected to protect the health of students and staff and create long-term savings and benefits.
“We celebrate more than just an addition to our fleet, we celebrate progress, innovation and a shared commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable future for our students and community,” said Special Services/BCIT Superintendent Dr. Ashanti Holley. “This milestone reflects our district’s dedication to both student safety and environmental responsibility.
“These buses represent more than just transportation,” Holley added. “They represent opportunity, clear air for our students, quieter neighborhoods and a forward-thinking approach to how we move our schools and state into the future. Together, we’re going to drive change one mile, one bus and one student at a time.”
The 10 buses are believed to be the largest EV fleet in the county. There are seven, 24-passenger and three 54-passenger vehicles. They will replace about half of the school district’s retiring diesel bus fleet, with the goal of eventually replacing all of them.
The school district purchased the vehicles from Wolfington Body Company using funding secured through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2023 Clean School Bus Rebate Program. Wolfington is based in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, but has an office in Hainesport.
A total of $1.6 million in federal funding was awarded to the school district for the upgrade.
“The switch from diesel to electric-powered buses is an investment in a cleaner environment and also in our students’ health,” noted county Commissioner Deputy Director Allison Eckel.
The district purchased the buses with funding secured through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2023 Clean School Bus Rebate Program.
In addition to the vehicles, the school district acquired equipment for five charging stations to power the buses. They were installed by the county’s Division of Construction Services, which hired skilled union trade workers for the project.
The division also assisted the school district with the installation of its new all-inclusive playground, and more recently renovated space at the Burlington County Institute of Technology’s Medford campus for a new video game design lab.
“The Division of Construction Services has become one of Burlington County’s biggest successes,” said county Commissioner Randy Brolo. “In 2024 alone, (it) completed more than $17.5 million worth of construction jobs, ranging from roof and elevator repairs to building renovations and bridge replacements.
“This skilled labor has saved county taxpayers millions of dollars on construction expenses, so we were excited to partner with the Special Services School District to use their services for such an important project to improve children’s health and promote a cleaner environment.”
Assemblyman Balvir Singh also congratulated the district on its upgrade.
“As a parent and a public-school educator,” he pointed out, “I can tell you from experience the extraordinary number of hours kids spend on buses, going back and forth to school and on athletic trips or other field trips.
“This fleet of quieter and cleaner buses is a great step in the right direction and a great investment.”
