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The Twin Cities' Metro Transit is advancing efforts to one day have all of its buses powered by electricity.

Labor unions, environmental and transit advocacy groups supported the plan to buy more electric buses in the next few years. The ultimate goal is phasing out diesel buses entirely, the Star Tribune reports.

"It's an aspirational goal, but we think this plan is set up to be fully successful," Brian Funk, Metro Transit's deputy chief operating officer for bus said at the Metropolitan Council Transportation Committee meeting.

The public transportation service has already bought eight 60-foot articulated electric buses for C Line rapid bus service, which will link downtown Minneapolis with Brooklyn Center through the city's north side. The C Line is expected to begin service next summer.

They struck a $12.5 million deal in July with a transit bus manufacturer to assemble battery-powered buses and related charging equipment for the C Line.

Metro Transit will also install protective shields on 150 buses early next month after recently assaults on drivers.


Metro Transit Deputy Chief Brian Funk says the end result is a clear acrylic shield that can be opened or closed at the driver's discretion. That option lets drivers protect themselves without compromising their customer service.

"It makes (drivers) feel better, and in their experience, causes somebody who may want to do them harm to walk away," said Brian Funk, Metro Transit's deputy chief operating officer for bus.

A total of 189 assaults were reported through October of this year, up from 184 for all of last year. The incidents range from felony-level assaults to spitting, verbal harassment and threats.