The ames transit agency (CYRIDE) will utilize $377500 in federal FY2025 5307 stbg assistance to upgrade a transit bus to a battery electric bus purchase

The Ames Transit Agency (CyRide) will use a $471,313 Federal Transit Formula Grant (CFDA 20.507) from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to upgrade a standard 40-foot heavy-duty bus to a battery electric bus. The grant, awarded on April 17, 2025, will provide $377,500 in federal funding, with a $94,263 local match, for a total project cost of $471,313. The electric bus will replace an existing 22-year-old diesel bus that has exceeded its useful life of 12 years or 500,000 miles. This project supports CyRide's efforts to modernize its fleet and transition to more sustainable, zero-emission vehicles, aligning with the program's goal of improving public transportation infrastructure and operations.

Activities

Upgrade a standard 40 heavy-duty bus replacement to a battery electric bus with stbg funding. The base bus replacement of a 2002 orion V (bus ID# 09072) is funded through a pending discretionary 5339 grant funded through the iowa DOT. Cyride is a subrecipient of that grant application. Cyride anticipates a new battery electric bus will cost $1250528 total. The stbg funding will provide additional federal funding toward the increased cost. Useful life of the new vehicle to be purchased will be 12 years/500000 miles. The vehicle to be replaced is currently 22 years of age (387509 miles) well past the required 12-year useful life for a 40 HD bus. Below provides additional details of the bus to be replaced/upgraded:make - orionmodel - 5.501VIN number - 1VHAH3H2526502009MILEAGE - 387509CURRENT age - 22 date in service 6/23/2003CONDITION - adequateuseful life 12 years and/or 500000 miles. The useful life is met on the age requirement which is all that is necessary to replace this bus.

Expected outcomes

The ames transit agency (CYRIDE) project will be the 8TH battery electric bus procured to operate within the ames iowa community. The improvement will lower cyrides carbon footprint for the community by operating a zero emission bus instead of a diesel bus. This grant will allow additional funding to further CYRIDE plans to operate a portion of its fleet with zero emission buses. If possible CYRIDE plans to operate this bus on routes that operate near the CYRIDE facility during the day. This will easily allow the bus to be switched out with a diesel bus in case the batteries get low throughout the day.

Intended beneficiaries

The beneficiaries are the residents (66427 population) of the city of ames university students at iowa state university and visitors to the community.

Subrecipient activities

Cyride does not have subrecipients.