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.

The funding schedule provides for the replacement of 234 heavy transit buses in FY27-32. All buses will be replaced with zero emission models with the goal of transitioning to a 100 percent zero-emission fleet. Funding is provided in FY27 to refurbish 16 Flash Bus Rapid Transit buses.

The cost increase is due to the addition of FY31-32, updated contract prices for zero-emission buses, and addition of funding to refurbish Flash buses.

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.

Montgomery County is committed to transitioning its bus fleet to 100 percent zero emissions. The County will continue to apply for grants to cover the cost of additional zero emission buses and associated infrastructure. Recent and planned deployments of zero emission buses maintain Ride On's position as a leader among transit agencies in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Planned bus procurements assume that complimentary and required maintenance and charging/fueling infrastructure projects will be in place as needed. Key infrastructure projects include the construction of a New Transit Maintenance Depot (P502402); a hydrogen generation and fueling facility (P502408) and energy upgrades to the Brookville depot.

Zero emission bus prices may fluctuate due to tariff rates under governmental negotiation.

State and Federal Aid include transit formula grants allocated by the State of Maryland. State aid also includes State grants for capital projects in Montgomery County awarded during the 2023 State General Assembly Session. 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. State Aid was reduced by $2.4 million in FY27 because actual State Aid received was less than assumed in prior years. Funding from the State Bus Rapid Transit Fund was added to provide for the refurbishment of 60-foot articulated buses used to provide service on the US-29 Flash Bus Rapid Transit line in FY27.

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.

Department of General Services, Maryland Transit Administration