This project will replace five (5) 2011 35 foot diesel powered buses and one (1) 2014 35 foot CNG powered bus

The Federal Transit Administration awarded Greater Portland Transit District $3,054,477 on May 7, 2026, under the Buses and Bus Facilities Formula, Competitive, and Low or No Emissions Programs (CFDA 20.526) to replace six aging transit buses with six new 2025 clean diesel 35-foot buses.

The project replaces five 2011 diesel-powered buses and one 2014 CNG-powered bus, all 35-foot models. The replacement buses will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, equipped with low-floor and ramp access. Greater Portland Transit District will install automated voice announcement systems on the replacement buses to provide stop and landmark communications for passengers with visual impairments. The district also intends to install yield-to-bus digital signs to improve running times, leveraging Maine's law requiring automobiles to yield to properly equipped buses.

The work aligns with Greater Portland Transit District's Transit Asset Management Plan, which targets maintaining average fleet age between 6–7 years and reducing over-concentrations in any single sub-fleet. The district achieved this average fleet age goal in 2018 and continues capital planning and replacement to sustain it.

The ultimate completion date is October 31, 2026. Performance takes place in Maine. No subrecipients are involved in this award.

Expected outcomes

Gptds transit asset management plan outlines a strategy to maintain the agencys average fleet age between 6-7 years of age and reduce over-concentrations in any one sub-fleet or year of manufacture through regular smaller fleet replacements. The average fleet age goal was achieved in 2018 and the agency continues to implement capital planning and fleet replacement to ensure these goals are consistently achieved.

Intended beneficiaries

Replacement buses will be equipped with automated voice announcement systems to ensure consistent stop/landmark communications to passengers with visual impairments. Gptd also intends to install yield-to-bus digital signs in order to improve running times. This improvement is possible due to a law passed in maine which mandates that automobiles yield to buses when the buses are properly equipped with signage.