Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes the application for a Section 5339 Low-No Emission Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The grant amount is $37.96m and will support three capital projects within Metro Transit's 2024 Executive capital budget: Electric Transit Buses & Charging Infrastructure, Facilities Repairs and Improvement, and Metro Satellite Bus Facility. The local share for this grant includes $6.55m from the City and a $2.94m contribution from the University of Wisconsin. Amounts for this grant are included in the 2024 Executive capital budget.
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Authorizing the Transit General Manager to file an application for a Section 5339 Low-No Emission Grant with U.S. Department of Transportation and authorizing the Mayor and the City Clerk to execute the associated grant agreement with USDOT, the associated sole source agreements with the project partners, Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE), New Flyer of America and Transit Resource Center (TRC) and execute the required 13 (c) agreement with Teamsters Local No. 695.
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The Low or No Emission Competitive program provides funding to state and local governmental authorities for the purchase or lease of zero-emission and low-emission transit buses as well as acquisition, construction, and leasing of required supporting facilities. Under 49 U.S.C. 5339 (c)/ Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Section 30017, $1.15 billion in funds were made available for this program. The City of Madison was awarded $37,962,840 to purchase 16 New Flyer 60' articulated battery electric buses and related equipment that will replace diesel buses. The project will continue the fleet transition to all electric buses and provide necessary facility renovations and improvements including new solar panels, which the Madison GreenPower Program will install. CTE assisted with the grant application and will provide project management and technical assistance for our Electric Bus Deployment project and TRC will handle the manufacturing inspections and Federal Buy America Audits.
WHEREAS, The United States Department of Transportation recently awarded the City of Madison’s Metro Transit Division a highly competitive Low or No Emission grant to support the deployment of electric buses and to continue the transition to an all-electric bus fleet as the City of Madison has a goal of 100% Carbon Free Operations by 2030; and
WHEREAS, under this grant award, City of Madison will partner with Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE), New Flyer of America and Transit Resource Center (TRC) for their knowledge and expertise in project management, technical acumen and necessary equipment and execute sole source agreements based on our grant application and budget; and
WHEREAS, Resolution 76343 passed on March 21, 2023 Supporting Madison Metro's Section 5339b and 5339c Low or No Emission Grant Applications to Federal Transit Administration for facility solar projects, chargers, and electric 60’ articulated buses indicated that “if the Federal Transit Administration awards the City of Madison a grant of up to $30.8 million for roof replacement at Metro’s maintenance
facilities, solar power installations, electric articulated buses and related equipment, the City of Madison would provide the match funds required, up to $7.7 million”; and
WHEREAS, the 2024 capital budget will create a new project: Electrify Madison - Metro Transit Electric Bus Deployment, Solar Panel Installation, and Maintenance Facilities Improvements Project and include the necessary funding from Metro Transit’s general obligations and accepts the contribution from University of Wisconsin to be used as local match to the Federal grant award; and
WHEREAS, as a condition of the assistance, the City of Madison must provide all annual certifications and assurances required by FTA and negotiate an agreement relating to the protection of mass transit
employees under the provisions of Section 5333(b), formerly Section 13 (c) of the Federal Transit Act, as amended; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MADISON:
1. That the Transit General Manager is authorized to execute and file applications for capital assistance for the Low or No Emission Grant program on behalf of the City of Madison with FTA for Federal assistance authorized by 49 U.S.C. 5339 (c)/Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Section 30017, or other Federal Statutes authorizing the above-mentioned projects set forth in the preamble and administered by FTA.
2. City of Madison will partner with Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE), New Flyer of America and Transit Resource Center (TRC) for their knowledge and expertise in project management, technical acumen and necessary equipment and execute sole source agreements based on our grant application and budget.
3. That the 2024 capital budget will create a new project: Electrify Madison - Metro Transit Electric Bus Deployment, Solar Panel Installation, and Maintenance Facilities Improvements Project and include the necessary funding from Metro Transit’s general obligations and accepts the contribution from University of Wisconsin to be used as local match to the Federal grant award.
4. That the Mayor and City Clerk are authorized to execute grant agreements for the aforementioned
applications.
5. That the Mayor and City Clerk are authorized to execute agreements pursuant to Section 5333 (b)
under the Federal Transit Act, as amended, between the City of Madison, Wisconsin and Drivers,
Salesmen, Warehousemen, Milk Processors, Cannery, Dairy Employees and Helpers Union Local
695, affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Warehousemen and
Helpers of America, with reference to this grant application.