As expected, the TCAT Board of Directors today in a special meeting unanimously approved the purchase of five diesel replacement buses to help strengthen TCAT’s fleet after safety concerns prompted the agency in mid-March to take its seven Proterra battery-electric buses out of service indefinitely. The Board also approved a local funds match to support a grant application to help fund the purchase of two hybrid electric buses.
Given that publicly funded buses must be in service for at least 12 years, the diesel bus purchase will delay TCAT’s goal for an entirely emission-free fleet by 2035. Nonetheless, board members stressed that they still aspire to green the now 53-bus fleet as much – and as soon as possible. In addition to the five new diesels, TCAT will be procuring six battery-electric 40-foot buses and four micro-transit battery electric vans for which funding has already been approved.
For now, TCAT board members said, it is imperative that TCAT have enough road-ready buses to meet service levels. Over the past four years, a combination of driver shortages and equipment failure afflicting both diesel and battery-electric buses have forced TCAT to curtail service, causing disruptions and inconvenience to riders, some of whom have given up on public transportation. A loss of ridership means more people will be using single-occupancy vehicles that greatly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Diesel buses, which are now manufactured to adhere to strict emission standards, are still a plus for the environment; one full-sized bus can take up to 60 single-occupancy vehicles off the road.
In addition to approving the purchase of the five diesel buses, which will be manufactured by California-based Gillig, the Board approved a local funds match to support a grant application for funding for two hybrid electric buses through the Federal Transit Administration Low or No Emission Grant Program. The FTA has already approved the Low-No Program funding for six battery-electric buses and four battery-electric micro transit vans, which likely won’t be here until at least the summer of 2026.
The Gillig diesel buses each cost $547,000, almost have the cost of a battery-electric bus and will be funded by the state’s Modernization Enhancement and Accelerated Transit Capital programs. TCAT General Manager Matthew Rosenbloom-Jones said it could take up to a year for TCAT to acquire the diesel buses but noted that Gillig may be able to deliver them much earlier depending on production schedules.
Rosebloom-Jones said TCAT now expects to purchase the six Low-No funded battery-electric buses from Gillig, which is producing “high-quality” next generation electric-bus technology. And, if funding is approved for the hybrids, TCAT will likely also choose Gillig to manufacture them as well. As stated in an earlier TCAT press release, Rosenbloom-Jones said TCAT’s maintenance staff have a solid relationship with Gillig technicians and are already familiar with the manufacturer’s engineering and design. It is also easier to obtain Gillig parts as the company has a steady supply chain to obtain needed parts. Sluggish supply chains have hindered TCAT’s mechanics from getting needed parts for repairs and preventative maintenance for the Proterra buses and some diesel buses manufactured by other companies.
Rosenbloom-Jones removed the Proterra buses from service on March 13 after mechanics discovered that the frame on one of them separated from its axle while it was sitting on a lift, rendering the bus unfit for service. All seven will remain out of service indefinitely until it can be determined whether they are susceptible to the same type of damage. TCAT purchased the Proterra buses, each at a cost of $1 million, with a combination of funding that included the Volkswagen Settlement, the Low-No Program, and state and local funds.
Although the earlier 2035 emission-free deadline seems like a long time from now, all new publicly funded full-sized transit buses have a useful life of 12 years. This means TCAT can’t seek government money to replace the six new diesels until at least 2036.
In an earlier press release, TCAT Board Member Shawna Black said, “I think having a diversified fleet really makes sense. We had great hopes for the electric buses but unfortunately with the pandemic, the shortage of supplies, maintenance issues and the bankruptcy of Proterra, it has been a perfect storm. This is not to say that five or three years from now it won’t be a different story but right now we need to invest in something that is tried and true and that is going back to diesel buses.”
TCAT Board Chairperson Deborah Dawson also stated in the earlier press release, “We need to get through our current travails in order to survive and thrive, and then we can move forward with our commitment for an all-electric fleet. But that time is not here yet and I hope the community will understand.”
Since removing all of the Proterra buses from service a month ago, TCAT representatives have been in contact with Phoenix Motor, state regulators and with peer transit agencies encountering similar problems, to determine what steps to take. So far, TCAT hasn’t yet made a final determination about when any of the Proterra buses will return to service. It’s important to note that all TCAT buses are regularly inspected under strict standards set by the New York State Department of Transportation before they are allowed to serve riders.