Provide operating assistance and preventive maintenance for saginaw transit authority to assist with fixed route and demand response services during the period of 4/1/25 through 9/30/26 as well as the…

The Federal Transit Administration awarded Saginaw Transit Authority Regional Services (STARS) a Formula Grant totaling $490,380 under the Buses and Bus Facilities Formula, Competitive, and Low or No Emissions Programs (CFDA 20.526) on August 22, 2025. The grant provides operating assistance and preventive maintenance funding to support STARS' fixed-route and demand-response transit services serving the Saginaw, Michigan community through June 30, 2027. Operating assistance covers essential expenses including salaries, fuel, operating supplies, cleaning products, and security-related costs (minimum 1% allocation) for continued service delivery. Preventive maintenance funding supports repair parts, supplies, and employee labor necessary to maintain the transit fleet and facilities, with specific attention to the transit facility and plaza located at 615 Johnson Street.

The grant also funds the replacement of two 30-foot transit buses that have reached the end of their useful life, with anticipated delivery scheduled for March 30, 2027. These funding components enable STARS to continue uninterrupted transit operations, maintain its fleet in working condition, and perform essential facility upkeep for the benefit of current and future transit users and the broader Saginaw community.

Purpose

The purpose of this award is to provide operating assistance and preventive maintenance for saginaw transit authority to assist with fixed route and demand response services during the period of 4/1/25 through 9/30/26 as well as the rolling stock replacement of two 30FT transit buses.

Activities

Operating assistance - used to cover operating activities such as salaries fuel operating supplies cleaning products and other needed items for STARS to continue to provide services to the saginaw residents with fixed route and demand response services with at least 1% allocated to security-related expenses between 4/1/25-9/30/26.preventive maintenance - used to cover eligible purchases of repair parts supplies and employee labor directly related to the maintenance of the rolling stock needed to keep our fleet vehicles in working order for revenue service between 4/1/25-9/30/26. The funding will also be used to cover eligible purchases of facilities maintenance parts and cover the cost of employee labor directly related to the general upkeep of the transit facility and plaza located at 615 johnson ST. For the timeframe of 4/1/25-9/30/26.rolling stock - used to replace two buses 30FT that have met useful life in order to keep the STARS fleet in good working condition. Anticipated delivery date is 3/30/27.

Expected outcomes

Operating assistance - the funding will permit STARS to continue operations.preventive maintenance - the funding will permit STARS to keep the rolling stock fleet in working condition to continue operations. The funding will also permit STARS to perform basic upkeep on the transit facility and plaza at 615 johnson ST.rolling stock - the funding will replace two buses that have met useful life and therefore help to keep the fleet in good working condition.

Intended beneficiaries

The beneficiaries of this grant will be the users of the STARS transit system both current and future the saginaw community and the employees of STARS.