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MPO members report federal grant delays, bus orders and near-term capital work for transit providers
Summary
Committee members reported a year-long delay and federal request to change propulsion from battery electric to hybrid for a transit facility and bus project; staff submitted a purchase order for 11 heavy-duty diesel buses and noted pending paratransit vehicle deliveries and university hybrid bus orders.
Members used the "other business" portion of the March 24 meeting to report project-level updates and procurement news affecting local transit fleets and facilities.
A staff speaker reported prolonged federal review of a 2023 grant for a joint transit facility and electric buses. "We've been hot and cold with the federal government over our 2023 $23 million grant for a new transit facility and for electric buses," the speaker said, and added the federal office requested switching the project propulsion from battery electric to hybrid diesel. The speaker said the grant has recently shown movement and the MPO is working toward obligation and contract finalization.
The speaker said the agency submitted a purchase order for 11 heavy-duty diesel buses to address an urgent fleet need and that two new paratransit vehicles have been ordered and are expected to arrive soon. The university representative said it had secured an FTA-supported grant to buy six hybrid buses to replace 2008–2009 models and that lead times for those buses are roughly 18 months.
Other jurisdictional updates included active road and trail projects, sidewalk rehabilitation, and local roundabout and frontage work. Staff also said they were evaluating proposals for a bus stop improvement plan to inventory stops and recommend ADA and shelter upgrades.
Committee members indicated the MPO and partner agencies are coordinating procurement, grant obligation and project design work to align federal funding with local capital projects. No formal committee action was required at this meeting.
