Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Transit

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Robert A. Nugent, Public Transit Administrator
CC:	Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager
Date:	May, 22, 2013
RE:	Interlocal Agreement with Brownsville, Texas for the Opportunity to Purchase Three (3) Heavy-Duty Fixed Route Buses – (Estimated $1,275,000)

Please place the following item a future agenda for the City Commission meeting:

Background:

Over the past three years the entire fixed route fleet has been replaced. Six of these new vehicles were heavy-duty buses with a life expectancy of 12 years. The remaining six vehicles were light-duty buses with a maximum life of 5 years. With the changes in routing six of the original fleet (purchased in 2000) was maintained in order to allow for changes and/or expansion in service. These vehicles are still being used on some routes due to passenger overloads and additional service requirements.

As we continue to make improvements to our service and as our original fleet continues to accumulate miles (all in excess of 100,000 over life expectancy) newer buses will be required in order to avoid service failures. In our efforts to acquire new vehicles we decided to utilize a “piggyback” opportunity from an existing contract. In March 2013 staff requested that the Gillig Corporation explore and provide existing contracts that included options for the purchase of vehicles that met our service requirements. Gillig Corporation was able to locate an appropriate vehicle option with the City of Brownsville, Texas.

Funding and Cost:

Under this “piggyback” opportunity staff would like to pursue the purchase of two (2) heavy-duty, 30-foot, low-floor diesel powered buses ($350,000/bus) and one (1) heavy-duty 30-foot, low-floor hybrid powered bus ($575,000/bus).The total estimated cost of these buses would be $1,275,000. Of this $1,058,250 will come from existing Federal grants. The local match of $216,750 will be provided out of the .05 Transit Equipment Fund.

Action Request:

Staff seeks City Commission approval, by authorizing the Mayor’s signature, of this Interlocal Agreement between the City of Brownsville, Texas and the City of Lawrence for the potential purchase of three heavy-duty fixed route buses.