Provide/purchase replacement 40 CNG buses (9) for cotpa. The new buses (CNG) will replace old worn out buses (diesel) which are past their useful life expectancy

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded Central Oklahoma Transportation & Parking Authority (COTPA), operating as Embark, a $5,033,850 Project Grant on July 15, 2025, under the Buses and Bus Facilities Formula, Competitive, and Low or No Emissions Programs (CFDA 20.526). The funding supports the purchase and delivery of nine replacement 40-foot compressed natural gas (CNG) buses to replace aging diesel buses that have exceeded their useful service life. The project is scheduled for completion by December 31, 2029.

These new CNG buses will enhance COTPA's fixed-route transit fleet serving the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, delivering measurable benefits including improved service reliability and dependability for riders, reduced carbon emissions and improved air quality, decreased maintenance and fuel costs, and enhanced overall quality of service for transit passengers. The intended beneficiaries include COTPA riders and the broader Oklahoma City metropolitan area, with environmental benefits derived from the transition to cleaner-burning natural gas vehicles as part of COTPA's fleet modernization initiative.

Purpose

The purpose of this award is to provide/purchase replacement 40 CNG buses (9) for cotpa. The new buses (CNG) will replace old worn out buses (diesel) which are past their useful life expectancy.

Activities

The activities to be performed will be to provide/purchase replacement 40 CNG buses (9) for cotpa.

Expected outcomes

The expected outcomes will be to receive funding which will allow cotpa to provide/purchase replacement 40 CNG buses (9) that will allow the replacement of old worn out buses (diesel). The new buses will improve the fixed route fleet of the transit system and create a more dependable and reliable system along with reducing carbon emissions improving air quality reducing maintenance costs reducing fuel costs and providing an improved quality of service for cotpa riders. The entire oklahoma city metropolitan area mostly the riders of public transportation will benefit from the new buses as cotpa continues to change its entire bus fleet to CNG.

Intended beneficiaries

Intended beneficiaries will be the environment and cotpa riders that rely on bus service for transportation. The riders will benefit from the purchase of these buses (9) as they will provide a much improved quality of service and more dependable and reliable service.