Title
Green Transit Technology Request for Proposals
Description
Request the Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee recommend City Council approval for the Public Transit Department to issue a Request for Proposals to procure vehicles and implement a pilot program to operate and evaluate, on a long-term basis, a sub-fleet of heavy-duty transit buses that use zero and/or near-zero emissions technology.
THIS ITEM IS FOR CONSENT ACTION.
Report
Summary
The Public Transit Department (PTD) has worked for many years to ensure that our fleet has the most up-to-date, environmentally friendly buses with the best-proven technology available to operate within Phoenix’s environment. This RFP would allow the department to establish a sub-fleet of green buses and test, on a long-term basis, a contingent of zero-emission or near-zero-emission buses, including their ability to operate in our environment and support local operating needs such as regional route distances, peak passenger loads, on-board equipment, and higher-capacity air conditioning systems. This sub-fleet would serve as a pilot program, allowing the PTD to gain experience with newer technologies and determine how best to integrate them into the City’s transit fleet.
Procurement Information
The RFP will be issued in Spring 2022 and request proposals to manufacture buses using battery electric, electric hybrid, and/or hydrogen power, along with detailing any associated charging and fueling equipment and infrastructure changes needed to support these buses. The PTD will then assemble a pilot fleet of buses using one or more of these available technologies.
Contract Term
The term of the awarded contract shall be five years and consist of approximately 20 buses to be delivered.
Financial Impact
The term of the awarded contract shall be five years with an aggregate value of approximately $25 million. In conjunction with the purchase of these vehicles, staff will continue researching and applying for grant opportunities as they arise.
Based on research, it is estimated that the purchase of the buses will cost in the range of $4 to $5 million annually through the life of the contract. Staff estimates that additional infrastructure costs related to special charging/fueling requirements will cost an additional $3 million at a single transit garage over the life of the project and will be procured separately.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the Public Transit Department.