ORANGEBURG, S.C. — Electric, clean and healthy school buses will arrive in Orangeburg by the end of the summer.
Congressman James Clyburn says its important to provide safe and healthy transportation for children.
“It is our job to do what is necessary for our children," Clyburn said. "When they get on these buses to not only have a safe ride home, but to have a healthy ride home.”
The federal government allotted $65.9 million for 168 electric school buses in throughout the state of South Carolina.
Orangeburg County School District will have twenty of those buses by the beginning of next school year.
Orangeburg County School District Superintendent Shawn Foster says this will also have health benefits for the students in his district.
“Being able to have a safe, comfortable, healthy ride for our students is not only efficient but also about the quality of life that we’re looking to gain for our students,” Foster said. “When they become adults, that they are not exposed to those things.”
The district says, on average, their buses travel 1.3 million miles and transport 8,300 students per school year.
Aaron Garcia is a bus driver for the school district who says the quieter ride has benefits.
“Especially when we come up to railroad stops we need to be able to hear and listen to the railroads or in case you want to engage in conversation with students, say something to them or them say something to you,” said Garcia. “It’s going to be a lot better to hear the communication is going to be a lot more clearer.”
As of now Orangeburg County School District has five electric school buses, by fall they expect to have all twenty up and running.
Schools in Sumter, Richland and Fairfield counties will all be receiving funding for new electric buses, as well.