Valley Metro receives $18.6M federal grant to replace up to 24 aging buses

PHOENIX — Valley Metro is set to replace up to 24 aging buses with newer, environmentally friendly vehicles that run on compressed natural gas (CNG).

The project is possible thanks to an $18.6 million grant Valley Metro received through the Federal Transition Administration (FTA). Specifically, the money will flow through the FTA’s competitive Low or No Emission Grant Program, according to a Monday announcement from Valley Metro.

The transportation nonprofit’s CEO, Jessica Mefford-Miller, said the FTA’s program gives funding to help transit agencies buy or lease low- and zero-emission buses. The money also goes to constructing or upgrading infrastructure to support the eco-friendly buses.

“I am grateful for the work of the Valley Metro team and the commitment and collaboration of our local and federal partners for bringing these federal funds to the metro Phoenix region,” Mefford-Miller said in the announcement.

Where will the new CNG buses replace aging vehicles in Valley Metro’s fleet?

By 2028, aging vehicles will be replaced with new CNG buses. The grant will fund replacements specifically at the East Valley Bus Operations and Maintenance Facility in Tempe.

Replacements like this have been in the works for years. Eight years ago, a Valley Metro official said the nonprofit was moving all of its buses over to CNG because they include various features, such as:

• An upgraded air conditioning system.
• A new type of transmission.
• An enhanced electronic fan system that improves engine performance.

These buses also support regional air quality goals, according to Tempe City Councilmember Jennifer Adams, a Valley Metro board member.

“Investing in clean and reliable buses is a win for riders across the entire region,” Adams said. “This grant strengthens our commitment to sustainable transit while ensuring that the communities we serve continue to have dependable, efficient service.”

Currently, Valley Metro’s fleet includes nearly 300 hybrid diesel and CNG buses that carry over 88,000 riders across over 3,000 miles of service each day.

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