THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT/TRANSIT DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
The Transit Division is requesting approval to transfer budgeted funds from bus capital within the Division's non-grant capital fund (transportation concurrency) in order to fund the design needed for Electric Bus Infrastructure at the Copans Road Maintenance Facility in the amount of $200,000.
As background, on October 9, 2018, Item No. 38, the Board approved Resolution No. 2018-463 authorizing the Director of the Transportation Department to submit a Grant Application to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for Federal Grant Program funds pursuant to 49 U.S.C. Section 5339(C), for Low Or No (Low-No) Emissions Competitive Federal Grant Program for awarded funds in the amount of $2,250,000, towards the purchase of all electric buses and associated infrastructure. These electric buses will be utilized to replace older model diesel buses in BCT's fleet that have met their useful life and operated along BCT's local bus routes. Deploying battery electric buses in place of the existing diesel buses will reduce energy consumption, emissions of harmful pollutants and greenhouse gases. To facilitate the deployment of the electric buses in the Spring of 2021, associated electric charging infrastructure will be implemented at the Copans Road maintenance facility.
Funds in the amount of $200,000 are needed for the design of the electric charging infrastructure, solar canopy, site work and a electrical distribution room that will house the electrical equipment for the new service that will be provided by FPL at the facility. The design for the improvements at the facility will be done using an existing continuing term Engineering and Architectural contract and will be able to service up to fifteen electric buses. |