This project will procure up to 8 buses to replace existing vehicles that have met useful life standards under 49 U.S.C. 5339 and FTA circular 5010

The Federal Transit Administration awarded the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council $1.452 million on August 27, 2026, under the Buses and Bus Facilities Formula Grant Program (CFDA 20.526) to procure up to eight replacement buses for the McAllen urbanized area.

Valley Metro, the transit system operated by LRGVDC, will replace eight 2015 New Flyer Type Eleven buses (unit numbers 1518 through 1529) that have exceeded their federally defined useful life thresholds and are experiencing increased maintenance costs and reduced reliability. The replacement vehicles will be fully ADA compliant and equipped with modern safety and accessibility features, farebox equipment, surveillance systems, and related equipment to improve service quality and reduce service interruptions caused by equipment failures. The new buses carry a five-year, 150,000-mile life expectancy. Performance occurs in Texas through October 31, 2029.

The $1.452 million comprises $706,674 in lapsing Fiscal Year 2023 funds and $745,909 in Fiscal Year 2024 funds under FTA Section 5339. An associated state funding contribution of $217,887 for 2023 and 2024 supplements the federal award under TXDOT application TDC-2023-LRGVDC-3457.

Activities

This project is using federal transit administration (FTA) section 5339 capital program funds in the amount of $1452583 for capital fleet replacement associated with the following funding breakdown:fiscal year 2023 $ 706674 (lapsing funds)fiscal year 2024 $ 745909 this project is associated with TXDOT TDC-2023-lrgvdc-3457 application in the amount of $217887 for years 2023 and 2024 only. The project consists of replacing up to 8 large urban transit vehicles in the mcallen urbanized area that have reached or exceeded their federal transit administration (FTA) defined useful life thresholds. The replacement vehicles: unit numbers 1518 through 1529 are year 2015 new flyers type eleven with 7 years/200000 miles and have been identified for replacement as they have surpassed the minimum years/miles required under FTA guidelines and are experiencing increased maintenance costs reduced reliability and diminished operational efficiency. Replacing these vehicles is essential to maintaining safe dependable and cost-effective transit service for the region. The new vehicles have a 5 year/150000 miles vehicle life expectancy and will be fully ADA compliant equipped with modern safety and accessibility features farebox equipment surveillance system and any other related equipment will support valley metros goals of improving service quality and reducing the risk of service interruptions caused by equipment failures.

Expected outcomes

The expected outcomes of the capital fleet replacement project include improved service reliability enhanced passenger safety increased accessibility reduced vehicle maintenance costs and downtime improved fleet efficiency and the continued delivery of dependable public transportation services. Replacing aging vehicles will also extend the useful life of the fleet improve on-time performance and support valley metros ability to meet current and future transit demand throughout the lower RIO grande valley.

Intended beneficiaries

The intended beneficiaries of the capital fleet replacement project are residents and visitors throughout the lower RIO grande valley who rely on valley metros public transportation services including older adults individuals with disabilities veterans low-income individuals students and commuters. The project will also benefit the general public by providing safer more reliable and accessible transit services that improve mobility and access to employment education healthcare and other essential destinations.