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Assembly approves federal grant to buy compressed natural gas buses and paratransit vans for borough transit
Summary
The Assembly voted 9-0 to accept Federal Transit Administration low- or no-emission grant funds and to appropriate local matching funds to buy compressed natural gas (CNG) buses and at least one paratransit van. Borough transit staff expects the grant will fund three to four buses and possibly a paratransit vehicle; local matching funds will come
The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly voted unanimously Jan. 9 to accept federal low- or no-emission grant funding and to appropriate local matching funds to purchase compressed natural gas (CNG) transit buses and a paratransit van.
Michelle Denton, director of the borough Transportation Department, told the Assembly the grant comes from the Federal Transit Administration's low- or no-emission bus program and supports the borough's prior commitment to convert the transit fleet away from diesel. "These funds will be used to replace a portion of our seven diesel buses that are currently past their useful life per FTA standards," Denton said.
The ordinance appropriated $2,494,728 in FTA grant funds and $623,683 in local matching funds from the Transit Enterprise operating fund for the purchase of compressed natural gas buses and paratransit vans. Denton said exact bus counts will depend on final pricing after procurement, but the borough expects to buy between three and four buses under this appropriation and could add a paratransit van depending on final costs.
Assemblymembers asked about operational implications, including whether the borough would need to run a dual fleet while fueling infrastructure is brought online. Denton said the borough is already completing CNG fueling infrastructure and plans to operate a mixed fleet as it transitions; federal rules allow relocation of federally funded vehicles to other agencies or repayment of remaining federal value if local conditions change.
The ordinance passed 9-0. The borough intends to follow typical procurement rules before final purchase orders and will operate the new vehicles as part of its drive to reduce transit emissions in support of regional air-quality goals.
Ending: The borough will move to procurement once local matching funds are in place; staff said purchases will be phased as fueling capacity and bus delivery schedules allow.
