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Portsmouth adds $5.05M fleet electrification study to CIP; sustainability panel urges microtransit pilot
Summary
The proposed CIP includes $5,050,000 for a fleet electrification plan to qualify the city for grants; sustainability committee members urged the council to pursue a microtransit/shuttle‑loop study and to seek private and parking‑revenue partners for a pilot.
Portsmouth’s proposed Capital Improvement Plan adds an element to develop a plan for electrifying the municipal fleet and allocates $5,050,000 in FY27 to support that work, staff said. The project is intended to position the city to pursue external grants such as the Granite State Clean Fleets Grant.
Peter Bridal, director of planning and sustainability, told the joint meeting the allocation would fund the development of an electrification plan so the city can become eligible for available grant funding and plan for vehicle and charging infrastructure transitions. "This element item is to develop a plan for electrifying the city fleet and we have $5,050,000 for this fiscal year," Bridal said.
Members of the Sustainability Committee and public commenters urged complementary measures at the meeting. Effie Malley, co‑chair of the Sustainability Committee, thanked staff for including the fleet plan and called for a city‑wide inventory of potential solar sites beyond city buildings — naming land and parking lots specifically — and for recurring greenhouse‑gas inventories to strengthen grant competitiveness.
Bill Lyons, also of the Sustainability Committee, advocated for a microtransit/shuttle‑loop feasibility study as a near‑term climate and mobility measure that could reduce single‑occupant vehicle trips and lower transportation costs for households. Lyons argued a shuttle pilot could be funded through a mix of beneficiaries, private partners, and parking revenue and urged staff and the council to move beyond a two‑year wait for state or federal funding.
City staff acknowledged federal and state funding for microtransit is limited at present but said they would pursue grant opportunities while exploring private‑sector and municipal funding alternatives. Councilors and staff agreed to explore convening with Coast and the Rockingham Planning Commission and to consider staff support for committee research or a pilot.
No formal funding decision beyond the proposed CIP allocation was made at the session. Staff said inclusion in the CIP allows a project to be prioritized and considered during the budget process; final funding will depend on grant awards, council budget action and potential pilot financing strategies.
