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Transportation staff outlines Clean Bus Act grant opportunity; board to hear Bluebird representative Jan. 8
Summary
Transportation staff said the Clean Bus Act grant could help replace older diesel buses with propane, compressed natural gas or electric models; the district has roughly "7 or 8" qualifying buses, and a Bluebird representative will brief the board on Jan. 8; costs and local infrastructure needs remain uncertain.
District transportation staff presented a Clean Bus Act grant opportunity and told the board the program could help replace older diesel buses with propane, compressed natural gas (CNG) or battery-electric vehicles.
"This government grant ... will allow districts to be able to, rotate busses out," said Mister Bridal (Speaker 8), the transportation presenter. He said the program offers multiple options, including propane and battery-electric buses, and that the grant may include infrastructure components such as an onsite 2,000-gallon propane tank if propane is chosen.
Bridal told the board the district currently has "about 7 or 8 buses" that meet the eligibility described in the packet and that he has scheduled a Bluebird representative to meet with the board on Jan. 8 at 3 p.m. to provide detailed information. "I can get that to everyone's email and make sure you have that information to review," he said.
Board members asked whether the grant would pay the full cost of buses or require a district match; Bridal said that may be the case and that the Bluebird briefing will clarify costs and funding structure. The meeting record includes a ballpark figure for a 77-passenger bus at about $160,000 per bus, and a referenced freight/discount figure of about $35,000 off a new bus for the propane option; Bridal said more detailed cost breakdowns will be provided.
Speakers raised practical concerns about alternatives. One participant (Speaker 9) described CNG as "compressed" and potentially more hazardous than liquid propane, and cited Leon County's earlier CNG experience as a negative example. Board members and staff also cautioned that electric buses would require charging infrastructure and higher electrical capacity, a cost and logistical consideration the district must weigh.
Next steps: staff will circulate the Clean Bus Act packet and the Bluebird meeting invite; the board asked staff to gather peer-district experience and cost estimates before making commitments.
