Mayor Rahm Emanuel joined CTA President Forrest Claypool to announce the purchase and overhaul of nearly 1,500 CTA buses—an investment that will provide an almost entirely new bus fleet in the next two years.

As part of the announcement, CTA is issuing a request for proposal for the purchase of 425 new buses — 325 standard, 40-foot clean diesel buses and 100 60-foot articulated buses, which will be a mix of hybrid and clean diesel engines. The purchase is estimated to cost $330 million, with funding coming entirely from the CTA through its sales-tax dollars.

Also, later this year, CTA will begin a $165 million project to completely rebuild 1,030 standard 40-foot buses. Buses will essentially be brand-new after receiving rebuilt engines, transmissions, suspensions, heating and air-conditioning systems, exterior repair and repainting as necessary, LED lights and other internal amenities. In addition, the 430 buses not originally equipped with particulate filters will receive them as part of the overhaul, which will help reduce harmful engine emissions.