Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Transit

TO:	Thomas Markus, City Manager
FROM:	Robert A. Nugent, Public Transit Administrator
CC:	Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager Casey Toomay, Assistant City Manager
DATE:	June 27, 2016
RE:	Request to Purchase Five (5) Used Heavy-Duty Fixed Route Buses

Background:

Over the past six years the entire fixed route fleet has been replaced. Although well past the five year life, six of the original light-duty buses purchased in 2000 have been maintained to accommodate increases in service. However, the ever increasing maintenance costs and lack of reliability of these vehicles has greatly limited our ability to continue to improve service where demands are high.

In August 2016 increased service levels on three additional routes are planned. In order to accommodate these increases and maintain current service additional buses will be required. The lead time to acquire new buses is approximately 18 months. In addition, with the future a transit center still pending both the type and number of new buses that will be needed is difficult if not impossible to ascertain for placing an order.

To maintain and/or increase service in the interim staff has determined that the purchase of used heavy-duty buses as the best immediate option. In order to maintain consistency of the fleet and assure familiarity for maintenance staff pursued used Gillig Corporation buses. This is because the majority of buses operated in both the city and university service were manufactured by this company.

Staff was able to locate five (5) used heavy-duty 30-foot Gillig buses (see attached) that met the basic requirements of our service at Master’s Transportation, Inc., a bus dealership in the Midwest for the past 30 years. These vehicles have been inspected and will require bike racks, destination signs, fareboxes and logos in order to be ready for service.

Recommendation:

Staff recommends the purchase of five (5) used heavy-duty 30-foot buses to accommodate increases in service. These vehicles would be purchased from Master’s Transportation, Inc. of Belton, Missouri. 

Funding and Cost:

Funding for the purchase of these vehicles will come from the State of Kansas Comprehensive Transportation Program. Each vehicle will cost $11,900. The total estimated cost to purchase five (5) buses is $59,500. There is no local match required for these funds.

Action Request:

If appropriate, authorize staff to acquire five (5) used fixed-route vehicles as replacements for six existing fixed-route transit vehicles which have surpassed both the manufacturer’s and Federal Transit Administration useful life requirements.