Ozark Regional Transit applying for federal grants for facility

SPRINGDALE -- Ozark Regional Transit will try to get federal money to build a compressed natural gas fueling station and add more natural-gas-powered vehicles to its fleet.

Joel Gardner, executive director, told transit board members Thursday the application deadline for applying for TIGER 8 and LoNo grants is looming. A TIGER 8 grant would be a minimum of $5 million and the LoNo grant would be about $1.8 million.

What’s in a name?

• TIGER: Transportation Infrastructure Generating Economic Recovery. TIGER is a U.S. Department of Transportation administered competitive grant program for projects that will have a significant impact on the nation, a metropolitan area or a region.

• LoNo: Low and No Emission Vehicle Deployment Program. LoNo is a grant program administered by the Federal Transit Administration. The main purpose of the LoNo Program is to deploy the cleanest and most energy-efficient U.S.-made transit buses that have been largely proven in testing and demonstrations but are not yet widely deployed in transit fleets.

Source: Staff report

"If we don't apply, we don't have a chance," Gardner said.

Gardner noted the odds of getting a LoNo grant are minimal and TIGER 8 grants have been going to bigger transit projects and systems in recent years.

Any of the grants would require a local match.

Gardner said CNG engines last longer and experience less wear than those powered by gasoline or diesel, so fewer repairs are required. It's also cleaner and the price has tended to be more stable, he said.

"I'd like to see more of our fleet go to CNG," Gardner said. "I want to move the fleet to at least 50 percent CNG. That should be my goal. If I can get a higher percentage, I'll take it."

Gardner said its likely part of the fleet always will have to be gasoline or diesel because CNG fueling stations are not available in the rural areas the public transit system serves.

Regional Transit has some $700,000 in federal highway money to buy new buses. Gardner said the fleet is aging, and he would like to eventually reach the point ORT could replace a quarter of its vehicles each year.

The fleet has 28 vehicles used for transit and five for maintenance and staff. Eleven are vans or minivans, and the remainder are medium-duty to light-duty buses. The federal highway money can be used to buy any type of rolling stock needed.

Buses are expected to last about four years, according to Gardner. The average age of the Regional Transit fleet is 7.6 years.

"We're constantly looking for anything and everything to improve public transit in Northwest Arkansas," Gardner said.

A casual conversation among board members and Gardner ensued about what they would like to see ORT become.

Several board members said they'd like to see better rural service and perhaps routes that could bring people from throughout the region to centers in the metro area where they could catch a bus to anywhere, whether it be work, school, college, stores, doctors' offices or entertainment venues.

Gardner said steadily growing the system will require a secure and dedicated local investment in public transit. He said various scenarios he's kicked around would require an estimated $6 million to $20 million a year.

"We've got a great basis, but we need to beef it up," Gardner said. "I don't want us to go from a $3.1 million budget this year to a $20 million budget next year. That's not wise, responsible nor practical."

NW News on 05/02/2016

Upcoming Events