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FY24 Lo/No Vehicles - Bus Facilities FTA Grant Application
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DESCRIPTION: Application for financing the infrastructure, training, and purchase of low or zero-emissions vehicles.
AGENDA NO: Click or tap here to enter text.
ACTION REQUEST:
? Approval ? Review Comment ? Information Only ? Other
RECOMMENDATION:
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Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to apply for federal funds not to exceed the amount of $27,500,000 for the purchase of low-zero emissions vehicles and resilient modernization of the ENO bus maintenance facility. The total project amount is estimated at $32,600,000; the local match for vehicles is 15% and for facilities and training is 20%, resulting in an RTA share not to exceed $5,300,000.
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ISSUE/BACKGROUND:
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The RTA had an aging fleet crisis as an aftershock of 81 vehicles purchased in 2007-2009 to replace the total loss of fleet in the 2005 Katrina levee failure. Of the 59 buses still in service, now well past their useful life, 29 will be replaced this year. RTA was awarded a major FY23 Low/No Emission Vehicle grant of $73.4 million to significantly accelerate its transition to a zero-emission fleet with 20 battery-electric buses and resilient charging infrastructure including a 5MW solar-based microgrid. That work is now underway; however, the significant infrastructure and workforce development required means vehicles will not be in service until 2027.
An interim step is needed to complete the urgent replacement of aged vehicles and support the transition to reduced emissions and resilient infrastructure.
For FY2024 the FTA has announced its second joint funding opportunity to apply for approximately $1.10 billion in competitive grants under the Low/No Emission Vehicle Grant program and $390 million in competitive grants under the Bus and Bus Facilities program. This year's grant program also has many unique features to incentivize and accelerate the adoption of low and zero-emission vehicles. These...
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