Bullhead City council members on Oct. 21 reviewed finalized plans for a transit facility and adjacent maintenance building to be sited near the Motor Vehicle Department on Hopas Drive and directed staff to pursue grants and return with formal requests for funding and construction approvals.

Transit Manager Michael Paluso, who presented the project history and schedule, said the contract for the design work was awarded in June 2023 and the plans were finalized in February 2025. "We had started this project, a long time ago, but we actually started this specific project, and awarded the contract back in June 2023," Paluso said, explaining a series of commission and public presentations that led to the current package.

Consultant Rob Sampson of Selberg Associates walked the council through site and building layouts, emphasizing safety, visibility and accessibility. The plan places five sawtooth bus stalls plus one longer stall intended to accommodate a Greyhound- or tour-bus–length vehicle, a public terminal with a glass-front lobby and ticketing/dispatch area, and a separate maintenance building with pull-through bays and a wash bay. Sampson said the sawtooth configuration allows buses to "pull in beside" stops and leave without backing up, reducing driver maneuvers and perceived safety risks.

Sampson outlined interior programming: a roughly 675-square-foot lobby, a combined ticketing and dispatch office, a training room for rider education, a separate drivers' break room with its own exterior door, and enclosed offices with glass view panels. The maintenance building includes two pull-through service bays, an additional bay, a wash bay and a mezzanine for parts and consumables storage. For fluid and oil disposal, Sampson said the design incorporates trench drains feeding a sand-oil interceptor and that spent fluids would be collected in drums and hauled off by a third-party contractor.

Council questions focused on sun exposure and occupant comfort for the west-facing glass lobby. Councilmember Gene asked how the design would keep the space cool during 115–125 degree summer afternoons; Sampson said the team used shade elements, upgraded glazing and insulation and sized the HVAC to meet the west-facing load, and added that window films or interior shades could be used where needed. Vice Mayor Alfonso asked about roll-down shades and the consultants pointed to exterior shading elements and the likelihood of supplemental interior sun management.

Council members also asked about the potential for covered parking to host solar canopies. Sampson said the parking structures are currently placeholders that "would be replaced by a solar canopy like you have on City Hall" if the city chooses to add them later. On the maintenance shop, Sampson said the team avoided a service pit in favor of movable vehicle lifts after consulting local operators, a change intended to reduce liability and increase flexibility.

During the public comment period, a resident identified as Scotty urged additional shade and cooling measures, asked about misting fans and questioned fire protection and liability for electric vehicle charging stations. "How about some mist fans or just fans?" Scotty asked. He also asked, "These charging stations, do we have a fire department that can put out fires when a car catches on fire there?" Sampson and staff did not commit to a final charging-station plan during the presentation; Sampson said the parking can be adapted for solar canopies and implied systems could be added later.

City staff told the council the finalized plans will appear on the council's evening agenda and that staff will pursue federal grant funding to pay for construction. "A few more times you'll be seeing this," Paluso said, adding that federal support is required to move the project to construction. The meeting record shows the council then voted to move into executive session (motion carried, 7 in favor) and the transit item will return for future formal approvals, possible grant acceptance and a subsequent construction contract award.

The presentation included renderings and several operational details intended to allow future expansion: color-coded bus bays for multiple routes, bicycle parking, covered public and staff parking with potential for solar, and a secured drive-through storage area for out-of-service buses.

Next steps outlined by staff are pursuit of grant applications, return to council for grant acceptance and budget approvals if awarded, and then bidding and award of a construction contract. No final contract or construction appropriation was approved at the Oct. 21 special meeting.