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Fairhope seeks state grant to replace senior transportation bus; city would cover roughly $32,600
Summary
The Fairhope City Council voted to file an application for a Section 53 10 transportation assistance grant to replace the city’s senior transportation bus; the vehicle is budgeted about $160,000 with an approximate 80/20 match and a city share of about $32,605.
The Fairhope City Council voted to file an application for a Section 53 10 transportation assistance grant to replace the city’s senior transportation bus, a staff member said during a public hearing Tuesday. If awarded, the grant would fund roughly 80 percent of a vehicle budgeted at about $160,000; the city’s share was listed in meeting materials as about $32,605.
The application is for federal or state-funded transportation assistance administered under the program identified in the council package as “section 53 10.” The city must submit the application by July 31, staff said. The council approved filing the application by voice vote after a public hearing and a motion and second.
Paige, a city staff member who presented the request, said the current bus — received through the program in 2012 and titled to the city after seven years of use — has increasing maintenance needs. “The bus is ours actually, free and clear,” she said, noting recurring repairs and the vehicle’s 2014 model year. She said the new vehicle would have a “0 entry” design that is easier for riders who have difficulty climbing steep steps.
Kim Ryland, the James P. Nix Center senior services manager, and other staff described daily use of the vehicle: scheduled trips, medical appointments, grocery runs and demand-response rides for seniors and people with disabilities. Ryland said the program provides not only transport but social contact for riders who may have limited other interaction.
Mayor Sherry Sullivan, who spoke during the hearing as well, described the program’s role in the community and said it provides important services and companionship for residents who rely on the center’s transportation. “It really provides a great service for people in Fairhope who did not have the mobility to get around or have the means of getting around,” she said.
Council members asked staff to confirm numbers and to proceed with the application. The council approved the motion to file the application; staff said the council packet included alternative vehicle options and left final budget details to the council’s later approval of the FY 2026 budget.
The city’s materials list the vehicle budget, the 80/20 cost-share structure and the application deadline; the packet does not commit the council to a specific vendor or final purchase without later council approval.
