The purpose of this FY25 low-no award is to fund the acquisition of six (6) gillig 35FT hybrid-electric heavy-duty low-floor fixed route buses to replace six (6) vehicles that will exceed their…

The Federal Transit Administration awarded Lowell Regional Transit Authority $7.158 million on June 24, 2026, under the Buses and Bus Facilities Formula, Competitive, and Low or No Emissions Programs (CFDA 20.526) to acquire six Gillig 35-foot hybrid-electric buses equipped with Allison eGen Flex propulsion systems.

The new buses replace six 2016 Gillig 30-foot diesel buses that will exceed their minimum useful life. The hybrid-electric vehicles enable electric propulsion for up to 50 percent of in-route operation and up to 50 minutes of continuous electric mode without requiring additional charging infrastructure. Engine start-stop technology and electric accessories eliminate emissions and noise during passenger boarding and alighting.

The project is projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 31.5 percent—3,223 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent over the buses' lifespans (537 metric tons per vehicle)—and to cut nitrogen oxide emissions by 91 percent and particulate matter emissions by 99.9 percent. These reductions directly improve air quality in high-density service areas and reduce health impacts associated with transportation pollution.

The recipient, Lowell Regional Transit Authority, is a local government transit authority based in Lowell, Massachusetts, operating fixed-route and paratransit service across fourteen member communities. Performance of work is in Massachusetts. The period of performance extends from the award date through December 30, 2028.

Activities

Replacement of (6) 30FT fixed route diesel buses

Expected outcomes

Replacing the six (6) diesel buses with new gillig hybrid electrics will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and harmful particulate matter emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by 31.5% cutting 3223 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (537 metric tons per bus) over the lifespan of the new buses. This is equivalent to taking 751 cars of the road for an entire year and this is even more substantial when you add to the inherent benefit of public transit where a single bus during peak service can take dozens of cars off the road. In addition air quality will be greatly improved by switching from the 2016 diesel buses to the new gillig hybrid electric buses: NOX emissions will be reduced by 91% and particulate matter emissions will be reduced by 99.9%. NOX and particulate matter emissions contribute to local pollution and are associated with negative health impacts such as asthma heart attacks strokes and premature death. The gillig 35FT hybrid-electric buses are equipped with the allison egen flex propulsion system enabling electric propulsion for up to 50% EV time during daily in-route operation and up to 50 minutes of continuous EV mode time without the need for further EV capital infrastructure investment and eliminating emission while improving air quality in high-density areas. The engine start/stop technology and electric accessories at stops eliminate emissions and noise while riders board and disembark the bus in high-pedestrian traffic areas. The gillig hybrids also employ regenerative braking which stores energy during each stop-and-go reducing the brake wear and further reducing maintenance costs. With the reduced dependence on fossil fuels the fuel economy is improved up to 34% compared to conventional diesel buses.

Intended beneficiaries

The ridership of the lrta service area. Lrta operates 75 or fewer buses in fixed-route service during peak service hours. The lowell regional transit authority (lrta) provides public transportation services within 14 member communities: lowell acton billerica carlisle chelmsford dracut dunstable groton maynard pepperell tewksbury tyngsboro townsend and westford. The lrta provides fixed route bus service to six (6) communities a demand-responsive service to ten (10) communities for elderly and disabled persons special minibus service to (12) regional councils on aging and a shuttle which services all major business and tourist sites in the city of lowell. The lrta also assists the massachusetts BAY transportation authority (mbta) commuter rail system which operates via keolis daily commuter trains between lowell and north station in boston MA.