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Centre County to buy three accessible vehicles with $285,000 PennDOT grant
Summary
The Centre County commissioners approved a PennDOT capital grant for $285,000 and a contract to purchase two Ford Transit vans and one rear-entry conversion van (total $296,722) to support the shared-ride transportation program. Staff said the purchase is fully funded by the state grant and vendor contribution and vehicles are available for quick—
The Centre County Board of Commissioners approved a PennDOT public transportation capital grant agreement and a related vendor contract at its Sept. 30 meeting to replace aging vehicles in the county’s shared-ride transportation fleet.
Transportation staff told commissioners the PennDOT grant for fiscal year 2024–25 totals $285,000 and is intended for vehicle purchases for the shared-ride program. The board approved a separate contract with Rohr School and Commercial Bus Sales (vendor name as presented) to purchase two 2024 Ford Transit vans equipped with internal and exterior camera systems and one 2025 rear-entry conversion Chrysler/Voyager van outfitted for passengers using lifts. The contract total is $296,722; staff said PennDOT’s grant covers $285,000 and the vendor agreed to cover the remaining approximately $11,722 so the county will receive the vehicles with 100% funding.
Staff said the vendor-supplied camera systems capture video only (no audio) and include interior cameras and exterior cameras that monitor lift entry to support incident review and claims handling. Transportation staff said having newer vehicles will allow the county to retire older vehicles that were incurring higher maintenance costs and reduce service interruptions for residents who book trips.
Why it matters: the shared-ride program supports residents who depend on county transportation for medical appointments, employment and other needs. Staff said much of the ridership growth is employment-related and has increased month to month since COVID-19.
What’s next: staff indicated vehicles are already available and will be delivered quickly once procurement paperwork is completed. The transportation director said the purchases will reduce maintenance costs and improve reliability for riders.
Ending
Commissioners approved both the grant agreement and the vendor contract by voice vote; staff will complete final procurement steps and vehicle delivery.
