Title
Green Transit Technology Request for Proposals
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to approve the Public Transit Department’s Request for Proposals process to procure vehicles for implementing a pilot program to operate and evaluate a sub-fleet of heavy-duty transit buses that use zero and/or near-zero emissions technology.
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, particularly in terms of vehicle range (how far buses travel with respect to regional transit services) and extreme temperatures (ensuring buses have adequate air conditioning and other on-board systems to provide a comfortable passenger experience during hotter months). This Request for Proposals would allow the department to establish a sub-fleet of green buses and test, on a long-term basis, a contingent of zero-emission buses for their ability to operate in our environment and support operating needs, such as peak passenger loads, on-board equipment, and higher-capacity air conditioning systems. This sub-fleet would serve as a pilot program, allowing PTD to gain experience with newer technologies to determine how best to integrate them into the City’s transit fleet.
Procurement Information
The Request for Proposals will be issued in Spring 2022 and request proposals to manufacture buses using electric hybrid, battery electric, and/or hydrogen power, or other suitable technologies bus manufacturers might propose, along with detailing any associated charging and fueling equipment needed for the buses. PTD will 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 procuring approximately 20 buses.
Financial Impact
The contract's estimated aggregate value is 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.
Concurrence
The Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning Subcommittee recommended approval of this item on Oct. 20, 2021 by a vote of 4-0.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the Public Transit Department.