MO-2023-010

Application Purpose: Program Discretionary Grant Award Funds

Bi-State is submitting this application to apply for and program funds awarded in the fiscal year 2022 Section 5339(c) Low or No Emission Vehicle Program. As published in the tables referenced in the March 4, 2022 Federal Register (Volume 87, No. 43), the full allocation for the Bi-State Development Agency for FY2022 is $5,412,960.

In this application, BSD is applying for $5,412,960 of its total allocation of $5,412,960. Local match funds of $1,353,240 will be provided for a total of $6,766,200 in projects being programmed in this application. BSD match funds are derived from local sales tax.

To date, FY2022 Section 5339(c) Low or No Emissions Bus funds have been applied as follows:
(+) $5,412,960 - Total FY2022 Section 5339(c) Low or No Emissions
(-) $5,412,960 - Available to program as of last application
(-) $0 - Remaining funds to program at a later date

Activities Performed:
Funds programmed in this application will support the continued integration of Metro's zero-emission battery electric buses by replacing up to six (6) diesel-powered buses that have met their useful life with six battery-electric buses. The project will also involve the acquisition of related charging infrastructure at Metro's DeBaliviere Bus Facility located at 535 DeBaliviere Street, St. Louis, MO 63112. This application requests funding of the incremental costs of the purchase price and necessary professional consultation.

Buses will be assigned a useful life of 12 years or 500,000 miles, whichever comes first. In our Section 5339(c) application, BSD identified the partners below that will be assisting in the continuation of adding battery electric buses to our MetroBus fleet. Per the application instructions, if an application that involves such a partnership is selected for funding, the competitive selection process will be deemed to satisfy the requirement for a competitive procurement under 49 U.S.C. 5325(a) for the named entities.

As we continue the expansion of our battery-electric bus fleet, we continue to partner with Gillig Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) and Ameren Missouri. Ameren Missouri, a local utility provider, will supply the electrical power to the facility for the charging stations and has expressed its commitment throughout this endeavor to protect the environment through its programs and initiatives aimed at cleaner energy sources. Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE), a non-profit whose mission is to improve the efficiency and sustainability of energy consumption and transportation systems, provided technical information for the application submittal and continues to provide technical expertise in the implementation of battery electric buses into the MetroBus fleet. Gillig LLC, a manufacturer of buses that meets FTA requirements as a Qualified Transit Vehicle Manufacturer (TVM), will purchase replacement battery electric buses from this vendor.

Expected Outcomes:
This project will replace up to six diesel buses with battery electric buses and install the related charging infrastructure. The shift from diesel to electric will reduce energy consumption, harmful emissions, direct carbon emissions, and as a result, create social cost savings that benefit the agency and community overall.

Intended Beneficiaries:
Along with supporting the goals of the Justice40 Initiative by serving the disadvantaged population in the city of St. Louis, this project will also benefit the environment by supporting clean air initiatives which call for the reduction of harmful emissions, direct carbon emissions, and energy consumption. Battery electric buses support the region's environmental sustainability goals and overall efforts to improve air quality. The newer technologies will benefit transit customers by improving safety and security and enhancing rider experiences. Transit employees will benefit by operating newer rolling stock maintained in good repair with long-term cost savings on maintenance and fuel costs.

Subrecipient Activities:
No subrecipient activities are being programmed into this amendment application.

The Bi State Development Agency Of The Mo Il Metro Dist

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

FTA Region 7 [DOT - FTA]

FTA Office of Budget and Policy [DOT - FTA]

Missouri United States

State-Wide

None

Infrastructure $5,412,960 (100%) percent this Project Grant was funded by the 2021 Infrastructure Act.