Park City looking to swap old electric buses for new ones in $5.1M deal

PARK CITY, Utah — Park City is looking to replace its problematic electric buses and add more to the fleet in a $5.1 million deal coming before the City Council this week.

The proposal, set for a March 20 vote, would add four new electric buses to replace older models that have become increasingly unreliable for local riders.

The city’s first generation of electric buses, made by a company called Proterra that has since gone bankrupt, are being retired years earlier than planned. Riders have experienced these problems firsthand through service disruptions and delays.

“We’ve struggled to keep these buses running properly, and it’s become nearly impossible to find replacement parts,” said Tim Sanderson, Transportation Director, in the staff report explaining the need for new vehicles.

The new buses from manufacturer GILLIG promise better performance in Park City’s challenging mountain terrain and winter conditions. They can travel up to 281 miles on a single charge—much closer to what the city’s diesel buses can achieve.

For residents and visitors, the change could mean more reliable bus service throughout the city, particularly during the busy winter season when transit is most critical.

The $17.6 million total project would be mostly covered by federal grants, with Park City responsible for 20%, or approximately $3.5 million as the local match. The city will fund it through its Transportation Fund Balance.

The report acknowledges some uncertainty in federal funding, noting recent administrative memorandums that sought to pause disbursements for electric vehicle initiatives such as the Low or No Emission Grant, though these pauses aren’t currently in effect due to ongoing legal challenges.

If federal reimbursement falls through, particularly concerning the $7.7 million in grants not yet obligated by the Federal Transit Administration, the city would either need to defer other transportation capital projects or reduce and cancel the bus orders.

“If Transportation had to cover the whole $17M, it would require deferring or defunding a significant number of capital projects,” the report states, though it doesn’t identify specific which projects are at risk.

The Council will hear public comments on the proposal at their March 20 meeting before making a final decision. To watch the meeting via zoom click here. For more information on meetings and the agenda, visit Park City’s website.