BOARD MEETING DATE: March 6, 2009
AGENDA NO. 9

PROPOSAL:

Award Funding from MSRC for Alternative-Fueled School Buses to Private School Bus Transportation Provider

SYNOPSIS:

On September 8, 2006, the Board approved an MSRC allocation of $2 million for CNG school bus incentives to private school bus transportation service providers. On January 18, 2007, the MSRC approved an additional $2 million, which was approved by the Board on February 2, 2007. The AQMD administers this program to facilitate the implementation of AQMD Rule 1195. This action is to award funding to Student Transportation of America in an amount not to exceed $1,924,706 to purchase 79 Type C propane school buses.

COMMITTEE:

Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review, January 22, 2009, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

Authorize the Chairman to execute an agreement with Student Transportation of America in an amount not to exceed $1,924,706 from MSRC Fund 23 for the cost differential to purchase seventy-nine (79) Type C propane school buses to be used for routes in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
 

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

At its August 17, 2006 meeting, the MSRC approved funding under the FY 2006-07 Work Program for CNG or other alternative-fuel school bus incentives to private school bus transportation service providers. Specifically, the MSRC approved an allocation of $2 million for alternative-fuel school bus incentives for private school bus transportation service providers. Subsequently, the Board approved this action at its September 8, 2006 meeting. In addition, the MSRC requested that the program be administered by AQMD staff in its efforts to achieve compliance with Rule 1195 – Clean On-Road School Buses. On January 18, 2007, the MSRC approved an additional allocation of $2 million for this work program category which was approved by the Board on February 2, 2007. Subsequent to these allocations, funding has been approved and distributed to private school bus transportation providers for the purchase of 25 alternative-fuel school buses. Currently, a balance of $1,924,706 is available on a first-come, first-served basis to private school bus transportation providers.
 

Proposal

An application was received for Student Transportation of America for 79 propane school buses to provide student transportation services to Los Angeles Unified School District. The amount of funding requested will exhaust the remaining balance of $1,924,706. This action is to approve an award to Student Transportation of America in an amount not to exceed $1,924,706 from the MSRC for alternative fuel school bus incentives under the MSRC FY 2006-07 Work Program for the cost differential to purchase 79 propane school buses (approximately $24,363 per school bus) to be used in the South Coast Basin. This award was approved by the MSRC at its January 22, 2009 meeting.
 

Benefits to AQMD

This project will reduce exhaust emissions from higher emitting diesel school buses and exposure to toxic diesel particulate matter, for school children and others to toxic diesel particulate matter that work in or near diesel-powered school buses. In addition, this project will further facilitate the implementation of Rule 1195.
 

Resource Impacts

The total amount of MSRC funding for Student Transportation of America shall not exceed $1,924,706. Subsequent to Board approval of this award, funds will be completely depleted from this MSRC work program category.