A nearly million dollar federal grant will allow Galesburg to purchase five new buses to replace its aging transit fleet.
Aldermen on Monday approved of the purchase of five 22-passenger super medium-duty buses from Midwest Transit Equipment utilizing IDOT’s Consolidated Vehicle Procurement Program.
The smaller 22-passenger buses will replace some of the currently utilized 30-passenger buses, many which have fallen into disrepair due to age and use. According to Galesburg Transit Manager Kraig Boynton, some of the buses in use are 20 years old and have traveled more than 700,000 miles.
Boynton tells WGIL, “We need (the new buses) sooner than later, based on the health of our fleet, or lack there of.
“We are hopeful that by the fall of 2025 we will have received these new buses and have them out on the road.”
Cost of the five Ford SMD buses will be $904,260, however a $900,000 federal grant the Galesburg received in 2018 will lower the city’s cost to $4,260.
A new 30-passenger Gillig bus would cost approximately $600,000 to purchase at this time. By utilizing the State’s Consolidated Vehicle Procurement Program (CVP), the city is able to order 22 passenger SMD’s for about $181,000 each.
“It has been our experience that long term maintenance of the Ford’s is less costly than that of the Gilligs,” Boynton said. “The Gillig repairs often have to be outsourced due to their components which adds both cost and downtime to the repair. The Ford SMD’s repair time should be less allowing to get the vehicle back in service faster.”
Boynton said switching to SMD’s will allow for the city to make replacement requests to the state more efficiently by utilizing its CVP process rather than attempting to find an open grant to purchase the buses.
“Much consideration was given to this type of switch,” he said. “Transit staff met with City of Quincy staff and discussed the performance of the SMD’s on a fixed route system as they currently utilize SMD’s to serve their patrons. Management, drivers, and mechanics are all very satisfied with the performance of the buses.”
Galesburg Public Transportation already has started to utilize this sized bus on fixed routes.
“Through a positive working relationship with IDOT staff, we have been able to transfer three used 22 passenger SMD buses to our fleet for the fixed route system,” Boynton said. “This partnership and transfer has helped provide some relief as we continue to navigate the approval process and supply chain of getting new equipment.”
Galesburg Public Transportation provided 109,402 total rides to passengers in the state fiscal year ending June 2024.
