The ames transit agency (CYRIDE) will utilize $377500 in federal FY2026 5307 stbg assistance to replace a heavy duty diesel bus a transit bus to a battery electric bus purchase

The Federal Transit Administration awarded the City of Ames, doing business as Ames Transit Agency (CyRide), $471,313 on April 22, 2026, under the Federal Transit Formula Grants program (CFDA 20.507) to replace a 22-year-old diesel bus with a battery electric bus.

CyRide will use $337,050 in federal Statewide Block Grants (STBG) funding and $94,263 in local match from three funding partners—the City of Ames property tax levy, Iowa State University administrative budget, and ISU Student Government fees—to procure a new 40-foot battery electric bus, anticipated to cost approximately $1.25 million total. The bus being replaced is a 2002 Orion V (Bus ID# 00504) with 387,509 miles and 22 years in service, well past the required 12-year useful life. The new vehicle will have a useful life of 12 years or 500,000 miles. The base bus replacement is being funded separately through a pending discretionary Section 5339 grant administered by Iowa DOT, with CyRide as sub-recipient. CyRide received pre-award authority to begin the procurement process and potentially award the project to the bus manufacturer before official FTA grant award, though no federal funding will be expended before FTA award. CyRide will use innovative procurement authorized under the FAST Act, Section 3019. Period of performance runs through September 30, 2030, with place of performance in Iowa.

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# 00504) 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.