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AGENDA REPORT
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| | | | | | | | DATE:
| April 6, 2021
| TO:
| Mayor and City Council
| FROM:
| Stefan T. Chatwin, City Manager
| | SUBJECT: | Resolution 2021-63 of the City Council of the City of Fairfield Authorizing Submission of a Grant Application to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) 5339(c) Low or No Emission Bus Program Grant Application |
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| | | | | | | | | RECOMMENDED ACTION | | Adopt resolution. |
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| | | | | | | | | STATEMENT OF ISSUE | | The City is currently in the process of converting its fleet from diesel to electric powered vehicles to meet the California Air Resource Board’s (CARB) regulations and meets the guidelines for a $180 million State Grant to aid this transition. This resolution authorizes the City Manager, or his designee, to execute and submit grant application documents to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for the FTA Section 5339(c) Low or No Emission Bus Program for five (5) electric buses and associated charging infrastructure improvements. |
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| | | | | | | | | DISCUSSION | On March 15, 2016, the City adopted the Fairfield and Suisun Transit (FAST) Alternative Fuels and Fleet Replacement Policy outlining the City’s intent to meet State emissions goals and eliminate bus emissions by implementing an all-electric transit bus fleet. In April 2020, the City hired a consultant, Willdan Energy Solutions (Willdan), for modeling and financial planning services for the Fairfield Transit Electrification Transition Model Project. This project is providing a framework and business plan to transition FAST’s existing diesel fleet to an all battery-electric bus fleet by 2033. This project will also help FAST meet the CARB’s Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) regulation that public transit agencies transition to a zero-emission fleet by 2040.
On February 11, 2021, the FTA announced the release of the Fiscal Year 2021 FTA Section 5339(c) Low or No Emission Bus Program with $180 million in available Federal funding. This highly competitive discretionary grant program provides unique opportunities for local transit agencies to work directly with bus vendors to identify select opportunities to implement zero emission buses to replace older diesel buses in their communities.
With recent progress FAST has made in its electrification plan, the City is in an excellent position to compete for these funds. The City will replace up to five (5) of its oldest diesel buses which have all exceeded their 12-year useful life span and have provided over 18 years of service. As proposed, up to $3 million of the Low or No Emission grant award will be used to fund required electrical infrastructure improvements to the City’s Corporation Yard to allow for battery electric buses.
City staff is working with Proterra, a bus manufacturing company that exclusively builds electric buses, to identify which type of electric bus technology is best suited for the City. If awarded, the City will purchase and deploy up to five (5) Proterra buses for local transit service and make necessary infrastructure improvements to the Corporation Yard.
The City is requesting up to $6.95 million from the FTA for this project application. The City is pledging to match this grant with up to $1.75 million in programmed from Local Transportation Development Act funds for the project to cover the project’s local match requirement.
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| | | | | | | | | FINANCIAL IMPACT | Fairfield and Suisun Transit (FAST) is applying for five (5) electric buses and associated charging infrastructure improvements with an anticipated project cost of approximately $8.7 million. Because this is a competitive discretionary program, the application award is subject to FTA approval. If awarded, the City anticipates that the FTA will provide 80% of the overall project costs. The City will match the project with up to $1.75 million in Local Transportation Funding to complete the match requirement.
All operating and capital expenses for FAST are supported with state and federal transportation grant funds. No financial resources from the City’s General Fund are used for FAST expenses. |
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| | | | | | | | | PUBLIC CONTACT/ADVISORY BODY RECOMMENDATION | N/A
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| | | | | | | | | ALTERNATIVE ACTION | | The City could choose against approving the release of this grant application. |
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| | | | | | | | | STAFF CONTACT | Shaun Vigil, Transportation Planner II
(707) 434-3807
svigil@fairfield.ca.gov
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| REVIEWERS: | | Reviewer | Action | Date | | Feinstein, Diane | Approved | 3/22/2021 - 7:01 PM | | Kaushal, Paul | Approved | 3/22/2021 - 7:34 PM | | Alexander, Amber | Approved | 3/25/2021 - 5:16 PM | | Alexander, Amber | Approved | 3/25/2021 - 5:16 PM |
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