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Bullhead Transit wins federal award for replacement bus; purchase awaits TIP/STIP programming
Summary
Bullhead Transit staff said the city received about $184,000 in federal funds—roughly 85% of the cost—to replace an aging Aurbach‑style bus, but the purchase cannot proceed until the project is programmed into the MPO’s TIP and the state STIP.
Bullhead Transit staff announced the system has been awarded federal funding covering most of a replacement Aurbach‑style bus but said the city must first have the project programmed into the regional TIP and the state STIP before applying for reimbursement and completing the purchase.
Paluzzo, a Bullhead Transit staff member, told the commission the vehicle build sheet showed a cost just over $217,000 and that the federal award was about $184,000—equal to about 85% coverage. "We did get awarded this vehicle," Paluzzo said. He added the city typically purchases vehicles off the ADOT state contract to meet Federal Transit Administration procurement requirements.
Paluzzo said the request was for a replacement vehicle, not an expansion; the bus being retired has more than 500,000 miles, exceeding the agency’s useful‑life threshold of 10 years or 250,000 miles. He also said the line item was included in last year’s budget and that City Council approved the request in October, but staff cannot proceed on the federal side until the MPO programs the project into the TIP and the state places it on the STIP.
Commissioners asked about procurement options and whether multiple bids were involved; Paluzzo explained the ADOT state contract aggregates competitive bids and simplifies procurement for agencies seeking federally subsidized vehicles. He added that federal grant coverage typically ranges from about 80% up to the low‑90s depending on the award.
Paluzzo said once projects are programmed through the MPO and the state and the city applies to the Federal Transit Administration as a direct recipient, staff expect reimbursements and the purchase process to move forward and provided an anticipated update at the next meeting.
The commission also heard routine reports: Paluzzo reported no passenger complaints judged warranted for the last two quarters and noted Bullhead Transit will not operate buses on Monday, Feb. 16, for Presidents Day. He said volunteer recruitment for the senior transportation program has been unsuccessful so far and asked interested residents to contact the city’s human resources office.
The meeting adjourned after brief procedural items.
