The Bi-State Board of Commissioners approved a 5-year contract with Gillig Corporation for low floor and electric buses. The contract anticipates an average of 30 buses per year for the five year period at a price not to exceed $122,197,743.
Metro Transit currently operates a total fleet of 383 buses with a contingency fleet of 56 in anticipation of support of special services, bus bridges and training. Federal Transit Administration (FTA) guidelines for bus replacement suggest retirement at 12 years or 500,000 miles. Currently, Metro Transit average bus life expectancy exceeds the FTA retirement guidelines. Metro’s current fleet consists of 94 percent diesel and 6 percent battery electric powered buses.
There were two responses to the RFP issued.