Sandy transit officials say electric buses due in May face federal review delays, staff seeking scope change to preserve funding

Sandy transit officials told the city advisory board that three electric buses scheduled to arrive in May may be delayed after federal environmental-review requirements forced additional studies and design work.

The issue stems from a federal grant that covers both vehicles and infrastructure upgrades at the transit operations site. Staff said the project requires a new documented categorical exclusion (DCE) under NEPA, a cultural‑resources analysis, geotechnical testing at 30% design, and hazardous‑materials sampling on the site before construction and chargers can proceed. Those additional steps have pushed the project schedule back months and risked the loss of federal funds tied to an ODOT deadline.

Why it matters: the electric fleet and charger infrastructure are central to the city’s plan to modernize the transit fleet and reduce local operating costs over time. Losing or delaying the federal funding would affect the delivery timeline for vehicles and the readiness of on‑site chargers, and could…