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Town, county keep joint START bus procurement plan; staff recommend 2 hybrids and 4 diesels amid FTA constraints
Summary
After joint budget review, town and county staff recommended proceeding with a staff‑preferred START fleet option — two hybrid buses and four diesel buses — citing federal grant conditions, vehicle delivery timelines and an ongoing review about Proterra vehicles and waiver guidance from the FTA.
Teton County and the Town of Jackson on June 2 reviewed START transit fleet purchasing options and signaled support for staff’s recommendation to proceed with a mixed fleet purchase of two hybrid buses and four diesel buses, rather than attempting a replacement that would change the federal grant technology to all‑hybrid or fully diesel vehicles.
Staff presented three options discussed in prior meetings: (1) purchase two hybrid and four diesel buses (staff recommendation), (2) pursue six hybrid buses (Council option), and (3) alternative mixes that were ultimately not viable under current grant conditions. Staff and START representatives said the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has indicated it would not likely approve a change from the awarded electric technology to a wholly diesel specification without high risk to the federal award. For that reason, and because hybrid vehicles provide an incremental step toward lower emissions while allowing earlier bus deliveries, staff recommended the mixed option.
"Any major change could potentially put the federal funding at risk," said Jody Pond (staff), summarizing conversations with regional FTA staff. Bruce Abel, representing START, noted that a recent waiver has been granted in one other jurisdiction allowing early disposal of older Proterra vehicles without payback of federal share, and START is pursuing clarity and formal guidance from FTA on disposal and replacement rules.
The boards also discussed fuel choices and emissions. Town staff said they are evaluating renewable diesel blends at the town fueling yard; Connie Anderson, ecosystem stewardship administrator, said the town is considering up to a 10% renewable diesel blend as a winter‑safe starting point and will explore higher blends if feasible and available. Staff indicated that renewable diesel (a low‑carbon drop‑in fuel) differs from conventional biodiesel blends and that winter limitations must be taken into account in the Mountain West climate.
Council members noted operational and delivery timelines: diesel buses typically have shorter lead times than hybrid or fully electric buses, which supported the mixed option to maintain service reliability while beginning a transition to lower‑emission vehicles. Cost figures discussed during the meeting included local share estimates for grant‑funded vehicles; staff cited roughly $658,000 (local share) associated with one option and about $660,000 for another as part of the internal discussion, but staff noted figures and funding match will be finalized through the agencies’ budget adoption processes.
There was no formal joint motion; both bodies indicated they would proceed with their respective budget adoption steps and that budget amendments remain an option later if FTA provides new guidance or if implementation details change. Staff and START will continue to pursue FTA guidance on Proterra vehicles and potential waivers and will proceed with procurement consistent with the budget schedules and grant requirements.
The joint review was the last scheduled combined budget meeting; town and county staff said each body will proceed separately to adopt their respective budgets and can make later amendments if needed.
