Committee recommends two electric remote-controlled slope mowers for trial to reduce emissions and improve worker safety

CHICAGO — The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority’s Technology and Operations Committee approved placing a facilities contract to purchase two fully electric remote-controlled slope mowers on the April full board agenda, staff said.

Dave, identified in the meeting as the tollway’s chief of facilities and fleet, told the committee the contract will buy two electric remote-controlled slope mowers with trailers, fast-charging kits, spare tires and multiple attachments. He said the purchase includes a two-year OEM warranty covering parts, material and labor at no additional cost and that the mowers are being evaluated as potential replacements for diesel slope mowers in the future.

Dave said the tollway currently has eight remote-controlled diesel slope mowers and that the two new electric units will be used at maintenance sites that now share machines with other locations. He said the mowers are lower profile and will allow crews to drive under cable guardrail — about 45 miles of which the tollway manages on some routes — enabling safer trimming of grass and brush and reducing the need for workers to use weed whips near shoulders, a practice he described as dangerous.

Staff recommended award to Green Scribe of North America Inc., doing business as Grama USA (presentation also referenced the name Raymoo/Raymoo USA), for contract 230204R in an amount not to exceed $190,957.41. The committee voted to place the facilities and fleet item on the full board agenda; the committee did not finalize a full procurement award at the meeting.

The item was presented as a pilot and evaluation purchase; staff said the technology is new in the marketplace and that there was only one local distributor identified for the equipment. No public comments about the purchase were recorded during the committee meeting.