Board discusses bus replacement options, emissions rules and reserve strategy

Board members spent an extended portion of the meeting on transportation planning and procurement options for replacement buses, balancing reliability, emissions compliance and budget constraints.

A board member explained the district has set aside about $300,000 in a reserve account for bus purchases and described concerns about Oregon aligning to stricter emissions standards. The member said federal actions affecting California's emissions waiver changed the landscape and gave the district some reprieve. They recounted the district's experience with a propane bus that proved unreliable and described current price quotes for diesel and minibus options; the speaker emphasized seeking multiple bids and bringing a recommendation back to the board in January. “We don't wanna deplete that whole $300,000,” the member said, adding a preference to keep the reserve near $200,000 while buying two buses if possible.

The transcript includes a quoted price for a brand-new diesel pusher that appears inconsistent with typical vehicle pricing: "they're quote me $23,230,000." The district representative discussed alternatives including long-nose 77‑passenger buses, 81‑passenger diesel pushers and smaller minibuses with all‑wheel drive for winter routes. Board members agreed the district should solicit three bids and noted Western Bus holds a state contract that could allow a direct purchase without competitive bidding, while other vendors (referenced as RWC/Collins) might offer lower prices.