anchor Description
This project provides for the purchase of replacement and additional buses in the Ride On fleet in accordance with the Division of Transit Services' bus replacement plan and the Federal Transportation Administration's service guidelines.
anchorEstimated Schedule
The funding schedule provides for the replacement of 182 heavy transit buses in FY25-30. All buses will be replaced with zero-emissions models with the goal of transitioning to a 100% zero-emission fleet.
anchorCost Change
The cost increase is due to the addition of FY29-30, higher prices for zero-emission buses in the bus replacement plan, and added funding for project planning and supervision. Decreased cost in FY24 reflects Current Revenue shifted from this project to Bus Rapid Transit: Veirs Mill Road (P501913).
anchor Justification
The full-size transit buses have an expected useful life of twelve years. Smaller buses have an expected useful life of ten years. Microtransit buses have an expected life of four years.
anchorOther
MCDOT will continue to apply for grants to cover the cost of additional zero emission buses and associated infrastructure. By deploying zero emission buses in lieu of clean diesel and natural gas buses, Ride On will reduce harmful emissions of greenhouse gases associated with its fleet.
Ride On, through its commitment to have all future purchases zero-emission buses, is exceeding standards compared to most other transit agencies. For example, California, considered a leader in zero bus emissions implementation, enacted a regulation that will require all large transit agencies to include at least 25 percent zero emission buses in their new bus purchases beginning in 2023. In 2026, the California regulation requires that 50 percent of the total number of new buses purchased by large transit agencies must buy zero-emission buses.
Planned bus procurements assume that complimentary and required maintenance and charging/fueling infrastructure projects will be in place as needed. Planning for the development and further implementation of these projects will be funded primarily through this CIP. Due to infrastructure constraints, 61 small diesel buses are being refurbished to extend their service lives and delay replacement until zero-emission charging/fueling infrastructure plans are developed for all depots.
anchorFiscal Note
FY24 supplemental in Current Revenue: Mass Transit for the amount of $42,024,000, Federal aid for the amount of $3,200,000, State aid for the amount of $800,000.
anchorDisclosures
Expenditures will continue indefinitely.
The County Executive asserts that this project conforms to the requirement of relevant local plans, as required by the Maryland Economic Growth, Resource Protection and Planning Act.
anchorCoordination
Department of General Services, Maryland Transit Administration