Funding to benefit ARTS
RECEIVES GRANT — The Aroostook Regional Transportation System, Inc. has received $735,160 in federal funds to replace several vehicles that have met or exceeded their useful lives, as well as replace the maintenance garage roof. Daniel Donovan, executive director of ARTS, said while it could be up to two years before the new buses arrive in Aroostook County, they will be a welcomed addition to the fleet. Here, Chuck Lyons, left, and Wayne Fox, both ARTS drivers, inspect the lift of one of the buses before taking to the streets of Presque Isle.
PRESQUE ISLE — The Aroostook Regional Transportation System, Inc., which provides demand response transportation services on a scheduled basis throughout northern Maine, has received $735,160 in federal funds to replace several vehicles that have met or exceeded their useful lives, as well as replace the maintenance garage roof.
“We’ll be able to replace six of our 16 buses,” said Daniel Donovan, executive director of ARTS. “The Federal Transit Administration’s replacement schedule is based on one of two things — years of service or mileage. If you look at our fleet, the smaller Ford buses are all considered five-year buses … five years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first. The larger buses are considered seven-year or 200,000 mile buses.
“Generally we exceed the life in mileage, and we now have seven buses that are beyond their useful life in age, as well,” said Donovan. “The way the system works is you can only replace them when you have funds available, which we now have. The buses we have are not in bad shape; we have an excellent staff that takes care of them and the drivers do a good job inspecting them, but after a while things wear out. Also the calcium on the roads tends to eat away at the bodies of the smaller buses faster. Maintenance costs are extreme when you have old vehicles.”
Due to state and federal paperwork — plus likely a bid process — Donovan said it will be some time before the new buses arrive in Aroostook County.
“My guess is we’re 18 months to two years out,” he said, “unless we’re really lucky.”
The maintenance garage roof is also nearing the end of its expected lifespan.
“It’s considered a 30-year roof that we put on 27 years ago, so it’s close to meeting its useful life,” said Donovan. “Just like a person’s own house, you have to prepare, and this was an opportunity to request funds to do that. We applied and got the funding.”
Depending on when the money arrives, Donovan said, the roof work could be done this construction year.
“If we’re three or four months out of getting the money, it will be a spring project,” he said.
Donovan said part of receiving federal funding is being able to guarantee a local match.
“The $735,000 is federal money, now we have to match that with local funds. That money comes from the services and fares we have that we squirrel away for future purchases,” he said.
When applying for funds, Donovan also requested money for a cold storage building to keep buses out of the elements in the wintertime; however, that effort was unsuccessful.
“We got two out of three things from our ‘wish list,’” he said, “which is great. We still hope to get a cold storage building, and the next chance we have to apply for funding, we’ll ask for funds for such a building.”
Congressman Mike Michaud, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, praised the announcement last week by the U.S. Department of Transportation to fund Maine projects with FTA money.
“I am pleased that the Federal Transit Administration has released this funding for Maine,” said Michaud. “The new vehicles made possible through these investments will save on energy costs, be good for the environment, and help provide area riders a safe and reliable transportation option.”
All projects were selected on a competitive basis through the fiscal year 2012 State of Good Repair Program.
Donovan said the better of the six buses to be replaced will remain onsite as spares, while the other buses may be sold to other providers.
Headquartered in Presque Isle, ARTS keeps two buses in Fort Kent to service the St. John Valley, and one bus located in Houlton, which also serves the Danforth and Patten areas.
