Memorandum
City of Lawrence
Public Transit
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TO: |
David L. Corliss, City Manager
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FROM: |
Robert A. Nugent, Public Transit Administrator
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CC: |
Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager
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Date:
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May 20, 2010 |
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RE: |
Agenda Item: Replacement of Six (6) Fixed Route Vehicles |
Please place the following item on the agenda for the May 25, 2010 City Commission meeting:
Background:
The T currently uses twelve (12) 30-foot vehicles for providing fixed route service. The service life of these vehicles was rated at ten years or 350,000 miles. As of January 2010 the entire fleet has well exceeded their service life.
|
Bus Number |
Year |
Mfg. |
Model # |
Acquisition Date |
Lifetime |
Mileage |
% Life Miles |
|
718 |
2002 |
El Dorado |
Transmark RE 29 |
9/5/01 |
10 years or 350,000 miles |
364,777 |
104.22% |
|
719 |
2002 |
El Dorado |
Transmark RE 29 |
9/5/01 |
10 years or 350,000 miles |
384,816 |
109.95% |
|
720 |
2002 |
El Dorado |
Transmark RE 29 |
9/21/01 |
10 years or 350,000 miles |
366,508 |
104.72% |
|
721 |
2002 |
El Dorado |
Transmark RE 29 |
9/21/01 |
10 years or 350,000 miles |
391,181 |
111.77% |
|
722 |
2002 |
El Dorado |
Transmark RE 29 |
9/21/01 |
10 years or 350,000 miles |
391,410 |
111.83% |
|
723 |
2002 |
El Dorado |
Transmark RE 29 |
9/21/01 |
10 years or 350,000 miles |
369,072 |
105.45% |
|
725 |
2002 |
El Dorado |
Transmark RE 29 |
10/15/01 |
10 years or 350,000 miles |
399,624 |
114.18% |
|
726 |
2002 |
El Dorado |
Transmark RE 29 |
10/20/01 |
10 years or 350,000 miles |
425,866 |
121.68% |
|
727 |
2002 |
El Dorado |
Transmark RE 29 |
10/23/01 |
10 years or 350,000 miles |
403,394 |
115.26% |
|
728 |
2002 |
El Dorado |
Transmark RE 29 |
10/29/01 |
10 years or 350,000 miles |
407,501 |
116.43% |
|
729 |
2002 |
El Dorado |
Transmark RE 29 |
10/25/01 |
10 years or 350,000 miles |
378,932 |
108.27% |
Recognizing this, the department developed a vehicle replacement plan in October 2009. This plan was developed prior to receiving consultant recommendations pertaining to the type and level of service that may be implemented in August 2010. Therefore the plan was based on several assumptions and had to anticipate accommodating both high volumes of passengers, as well as, vehicle maneuverability that would be necessary in non-traditional service.
The plan called for a mix of four vehicle types to replace the twelve (12) bus fleet as follows:
Of these twelve (12) buses three (3) heavy-duty 40’ hybrid buses have been ordered. This purchase was necessary due to the short time frame of the funding source and the obvious need for larger buses to operate on coordinated routes. These buses are expected to be delivered in 2011.
The department is still pursuing a “piggyback” option for the purchase of three (3) Heavy-duty 30’ buses to be used in highly coordinated corridors. At the present time there are no options available for this size vehicle.
With the completion of the consultant recommendations and public’s acceptance pertaining to changes some adjustments to the initial plan have become necessary. The original plan anticipated a considerable amount of intermingling of vehicles on routes that were combined or coordinated. With the new service design this will not be necessary. Several of the routes have been designed to take advantage of vehicle size and thus there is less need for medium-duty buses.
Instead of acquiring three (3) medium-duty and three (3) light-duty vehicles we can now pursue six (6) light duty buses. These light-duty buses (cut-away style) allow considerable flexibility in vehicle assignment and operation and can easily be used in both traditional and non-traditional applications of service.
Recommendation:
Staff recommends the purchase of six (6) light-duty 25’ buses to replace six (6) existing fixed route vehicles. In order to expedite our efforts to acquire replacement vehicles staff decided to utilize the current Kansas Department of Transportation Vehicle Bid Contract. The contract was awarded to Kansas Truck Equipment, Co. in Wichita, Kansas.
The vehicles that will be acquired are 2010 El Dorado Aerotech 240. These buses will have fiberglass/composite bodies built on a Ford E-450 chassis and be powered by a diesel engine. The maximum capacity of the buses would be eighteen (18) passengers.
With this purchase and the purchase of three (3) heavy-duty 40’ hybrid buses only three buses will need to be acquired to fully replace the existing twelve (12) bus fixed route fleet. The last three will be acquired using Federal grants. Local funds of approximately $150,000 will be required to match these Federal funds for these three (3) buses. These local funds are currently available under the dedicated .05 Sales Tax.
Funding and Cost:
The total estimated cost to purchase six (6) buses will be $480,000. Of this $398,400 would come from existing Federal Transit Administration Grants. The balance, $81,600 would come from the State of Kansas Comprehensive Transportation Program. There is no local match needed.
Action Request:
Authorize staff to acquire six (6) fixed-route vehicles as replacements for six (6) existing fixed-route transit vehicles which have surpassed both the manufacturer and Federal Transit Administration useful life requirements. These vehicles would be purchased off of the existing Kansas Department of Transportation state bid vehicle contract. The cost per vehicle is $80,000 and a total cost of $480,000 from Kansas Truck Equipment, Co. in Wichita, Kansas.