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Board discusses CDBG-funded 40-passenger bus: lift gate vs bathroom and fleet capacity
Summary
Commissioner Jackson joined the work session to advise on a planned CDBG bus purchase; members debated trade-offs between adding a wheelchair lift (which reduces seats and lengthens the bus) and installing a bathroom, and agreed to consider fleet capacity and existing lift-equipped vehicles before finalizing specs.
The Greenburgh board reviewed a planned bus purchase tied to a CDBG grant and asked the commissioner of public works to advise on accessibility and configuration constraints.
Commissioner Jackson, who joined the session for the item, said the town already operates several multipurpose buses and that the shorter buses (16- and 30-passenger) have lift gates; he cautioned the board that adding both a lift gate and an onboard bathroom to a 40-passenger coach would substantially increase bus length and cost. “I’m 90% that you will not be able to do both the lift gate and the bathroom,” he said after describing drainage and layout constraints.
Members weighing needs for seniors, longer trips and parking constraints discussed using existing lift-gate buses in tandem with a larger 40-passenger vehicle for trips that require wheelchair access. Staff noted fleet composition: a 30-passenger bus with a lift gate, a 16-passenger bus with a lift gate, two 20-passenger buses without lifts and older 36- and 32-passenger vehicles that may soon need replacement.
Board members agreed the town should preserve flexibility for seniors and those with temporary mobility needs while balancing the grant budget and parking/vehicle-size limitations. Several members asked staff to prepare a fleet inventory chart showing vehicle types, capacities and accessibility features to inform the final procurement decision.
The board signaled support for moving forward with the grant-funded acquisition while directing staff to return with a detailed inventory and options, such as specifying a lift gate or prioritizing a bathroom depending on final cost and configuration.
