MA-2025-025

Application purpose: This project will provide funds for the purchase of up to five 35-foot hybrid electric buses for the Nantucket Regional Transit Authority (NRTA) to replace vehicles which have reached the end of their useful lives.

The buses will improve NRTA service by providing new comfortable reliable vehicles for its customers.

The funds were provided under an FTA discretionary Low-No award in FY22.

Activities performed: This project includes the purchase of up to five 35-foot hybrid electric buses.

The buses will replace vehicles which have reached the end of their useful lives.

In FY22 the FTA provided $4,143,750 to MassDOT to purchase 15 less than 30-foot propane vehicles.

However, the NRTA has been unsuccessful in procuring this type of vehicle so requested a scope change from FTA on 12/19/24 to switch the type of low emission vehicle from propane to hybrid electric and the size and number of vehicles from fifteen under 30 foot to five 35 foot given the increasing ridership demands for NRTA services (70% ridership increase in FY24) and the opportunity to offer a more efficient fueling/propulsion option with hybrid electric than the initial request for propane powered vehicles.

The FTA approved the scope change request on 1/14/25.

The cost estimate for each 35 hybrid electric vehicle is about $850,000 so the grant funds would allow the purchase of up to five depending on the final bid prices.

Expected outcomes: The NRTA acquisition of up to five 35-foot hybrid electric vehicles will provide the authority with an opportunity to offer an efficient fueling/propulsion option with hybrid electric and also to meet the increasing demand for service from its customers.

The NRTA has experienced significant ridership gains of up to 70% in FY24 with the provision of fare free service.

The five 35-foot hybrid electric vehicles purchased under this project will enable the NRTA to alleviate overcrowding on the heaviest travelled routes and improve the efficiency of its operations while still meeting the goals of the FTA's Low-No program.

Given the increased ridership demands for NRTA services, the larger low emission hybrid electric vehicles will provide increased capacity on the most heavily travelled NRTA routes, reduce overcrowding, and improve the efficiency of service.

Intended beneficiaries: This project will benefit the NRTA ridership by providing low emission larger vehicles which will alleviate over-crowding on the most heavily travelled routes and improve the reliability and efficiency of service.

Subrecipient activities: The NRTA will procure the vehicles under the oversight of the MassDOT.

Massachusetts Executive Office Of Transportation

THE LOW OR NO EMISSION COMPETITIVE PROGRAM PROVIDES FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE OR LEASE OF ZERO-EMISSION AND LOW-EMISSION TRANSIT BUSES AS WELL AS ACQUISITION CONSTRUCTION AND LEASING OF REQUIRED SUPPORTING FACILITIES.

20.526 - Buses and Bus Facilities Formula, Competitive, and Low or No Emissions Programs

FTA Region 1 [DOT - FTA]

FTA Office of Budget and Policy [DOT - FTA]

Massachusetts United States

State-Wide

FY 2022 Competitive Funding Opportunity; Low or No Emission Grant Program (FTA-2022-001-TPM-LWNO)