The Redwood Coast Transit Authority board approved revised purchase orders to continue procurement of five replacement buses and to add a blue exterior color as a branding choice. The revision reissues purchase orders that were not fulfilled in the previous fiscal year and includes an increase in unit cost to cover the paint upgrade. Sylvia Martinez Palacios, a marketing team member, explained the rationale: the agency uses blue in its logo, and choosing blue instead of white or green helps riders distinguish Redwood Coast Transit vehicles from neighboring Humboldt Transit Authority, which uses green. "We want to go ahead and go from having our white vehicles to a blue color," Martinez Palacios said. Officials also cited maintenance reasons: white vehicles show dirt more readily during the rainy season and require more frequent washing. Finance staff said most buses are heavily grant funded; upgrading paint typically increases the local match by a modest amount. The staff estimate for the additional local match was "in the $2,000 to $3,000 per bus range" for most vehicles, though one older 50/50 grant will require a higher local share for that particular vehicle. Board members expressed support for the color change, and the motion to approve the revised purchase orders carried unanimously with Director Altman, Director Starkey and Chairman Wright voting yes.