NM-2025-005

Application purpose: This grant project will be used to purchase six (6) heavy-duty battery electric buses from BYD (Build Your Dreams).

These six buses are all but one of the remaining options under an existing contract from December 2021 between RIDE and the City of Las Cruces.

These buses will replace six aging buses in the city's transit fleet.

This is part of an ongoing project to replace 12 aging diesel buses that have exceeded their useful life benchmark (ULB).

The first five (5) battery electric buses funded by an existing grant were delivered in July 2023.

This grant will also fund seven DC bus chargers, bus charger installation, charge management software, contracted project management, and associated workforce development, all of which are included in the existing contract.

The replacement buses are expected to have a useful life of between 12 and 14 years.

Activities performed: Activities include purchasing six battery electric buses from BYD, seven DC chargers, charger installation, software for charge management and battery state of health, workforce development, and contracted project management.

The workforce development component will include partial funding for a driving simulator that will train staff to efficiently drive the battery electric buses.

The driving simulator will also be partially funded by a separate FTA grant (NM-2023-043).

The workforce development component will also include bus OEM training for bus operators, maintenance staff, and first responders.

There will also be OEM training on maintaining the chargers.

Expected outcomes: These new buses will make the city's transit fleet more reliable and result in greater savings in maintenance and energy costs.

These buses are replacing six aging diesel buses in the fleet that have surpassed their useful life.

These buses will result in us having 55% of the fixed route fleet as battery electric buses.

Activities in the workforce development will result in having coach operators and maintenance staff that are well trained in the use and maintenance of these vehicles and the chargers.

Intended beneficiaries: Intended beneficiaries are residents, visitors, businesses, and major education institutions that will benefit from a well-supported reliable fixed-route service for at least the next decade.

All these groups benefit from the city's efforts to transition to greener, clean low- and no-emissions vehicles, thereby contributing to improved local air quality.

Subrecipient activities: N/A

City Of LAS Cruces

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 6 [DOT - FTA]

FTA Office of Budget and Policy [DOT - FTA]

New Mexico United States

State-Wide

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