One of the current Mountain Line, Hybrid Electric Buses (Image Souce: NAIPTA)
Flagstaff’s Mountain Line bus system, operated by the Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority (NAIPTA), will receive $989,000 in funding as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
According to Jeff Meilbeck, NAIPTA General Manager, “A large share of the funding will be used to purchase a Hybrid Electric Bus for the Mountain Line fleet.” Mountain Line already has two of the clean-air Hybrid buses and plans over time to replace all older vehicles with low-emission buses.
The remainder of the funding will be used to upgrade a number of passenger facilities. Mountain Line plans to build a Transfer Center at its Flagstaff Mall transfer point and to install ten additional bus shelters. Meilbeck notes, “Both of these efforts will put local builders to work while increasing the quality of service we provide to our riders.”
In addition to the already committed funding, NAIPTA is applying for an additional $2.1 million in stimulus funding under a grant program called Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER). This funding would be used to purchase four additional Hybrid buses.
Meilbeck says, “Flagstaff is very well positioned to compete for this grant because of our commitment to clean-air vehicles as measured by the 72% voter support from Flagstaff voters in last year’s election. This grant would achieve both of the funding sources’ objectives – quickly stimulate the economy by putting U.S. bus builders to work and significantly reduce Mountain Line’s fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions.”
Meilbeck goes on to note, “Funding provided under the Recovery and Reinvestment Act is 100% money so we don’t have to provide a local match. This means that we can continue to provide affordable transportation, support the local economy, do our part to reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil and enhance the quality of service that we provide to our customers despite the current decline in local tax revenues. It’s a win, win, win deal for Flagstaff and Mountain Line.”
