Agenda Item Wording:
title
Authorization to purchase buses for the Cross Valley Corridor and Bus Rapid Transit project - Authorize the City Manager to utilize the California Association of Coordinated Transportation Basin Transit cooperative contract to enter into a contract with Gillig for the purchase of two (2) 35’ Battery Electric Buses for the Visalia Transit Fixed Route services in the amount of $3,129,442, and appropriate funds of $1,686,000 from the California Department of Transportation and $1,443,442 from the Tulare County Association of Governments.
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Agenda Date: 11/02/2026
Prepared by:
David Chang; Financial Analyst, david.chang@visalia.gov, (559) 713-4526
Angelina Baker, Transit Manager, angelina.baker@visalia.gov, (559) 713-4591
John Lollis, Assistant City Manager, john.lollis@visalia.gov, (559) 713-4323
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to utilize the California Association of Coordinated Transportation Basin Transit cooperative contract for zero-emission transit buses to enter into a contract with Gillig LLC for the purchase of two (2) 35’ Battery Electric Buses (BEB) for Visalia Transit in support of the future Cross Valley Corridor (CVC) and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services in the amount of $3,129,442,), and appropriate funds of $1,686,000 from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and $1,443,442 from the Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG) to the newly created CIP.
Summary:
Transit Division staff is proposing the purchase of two (2) BEB from Gillig LLC with the fundings provided from Caltrans’ Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) Cycle 5 of $1,686,000 and $1,443,442 in matching funds from TCAG through Senate Bill (SB) 125 State transit funds. The two (2) Gillig BEB’s will be established as a new CIP and serve as new additions to the Fixed-Route bus fleet to support the Cross Valley Corridor Zero-Emission Bus Project (CVC ZEB).
Background Discussion:
TIRCP, established through SB 862 and later modified by SB 9, provides funding for transformative capital improvements that modernize California’s intercity, commuter, and urban rail and transit systems. The primary goal of TIRCP is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, decrease vehicle miles traveled, and relieve congestion through strategic investments in zero-emission and multimodal transportation projects. Since its inception, the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) has administered seven (7) funding cycles, with Cycle 8 currently under review of applications.
The City’s inclusion in TIRCP is derived from the Cycle 5 funding award submitted in 2022 for the CVC ZEB. This regional effort, led by the TCAG in partnership with multiple transit agencies, supports the development of the planned east-west Cross Valley Corridor express bus service. The project enhances regional rail connectivity by deploying zero-emission feeder buses in key communities, providing access to the future North-South California High-Speed Rail system.
As part of this multi-agency effort, the City is responsible for procuring two (2) BEBs. In accordance with the approved project schedule, Visalia Transit anticipates purchasing the two (2) vehicles by the end of the 2026 calendar year. The California Transportation Commission (CTC) approved the allocation request for $1,686,000 in Cycle 5 funding at its meeting on June 25, 2026, for this component of the project and Transit now must procure these vehicles in alignment with the approved project schedule. The CTC allocation of $1,686,000 does not fully cover the total cost of the two (2) BEBs, so TCAG will supplement the remaining amount using its SB 125 funding.
The selected vendor has also applied for the Clean Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP), which may further reduce the vehicle cost at the dealership level. If awarded, the HVIP voucher would reduce the required SB125 match by at least $120,000 per vehicle. However, due to uncertainty in voucher availability, staff is proceeding under the assumption that the voucher may not be awarded and will plan for the full funding amount needed to complete the procurement.
Table 1 shows the total grant allocation breakdown of the two (2) 35’ buses by fund.
Table 1
Gillig BEB Funding Breakdown
|
Vehicle |
TIRCP FUNDING |
SB125 FUNDING |
TOTAL |
|
35’ BEB |
$843,000 |
$721,721 |
$1,564,721 |
|
35’ BEB |
$843,000 |
$721,721 |
$1,564,721 |
|
Total |
$1,686,000 |
$1,443,442 |
$3,129,442 |
Given the estimated 2-year timeframe in the procurement of BEB’s from the purchase date to the date of delivery, it is not expected that these buses will be received by Visalia Transit until the 2029 calendar year. As the Council is aware, design is underway for the development of capital improvements in support of the Cross Valley Corridor (e.g. signal prioritization) which are not expected to be completed until 2030. Once received, the buses will be deployed on the Mooney Boulevard Fixed-Route service, which will include the development of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service between Visalia and Tulare as part of the CVC Project.
Fiscal impact including annual maintenance and operating costs:
There is no initial fiscal impact in the purchase of these buses and operations are to be funded using a combination of SB 743 (Tulare Six-Lane Widening and Paige Avenue Interchange Improvement Project), TCAG SB125 and TIRCP funding with future operations being supported by additional State grant funding for the CVC Project.
Prior Council Action:
November 3, 2025: City’s participation as the Project Lead and Primary Operator of the
Regional Express Transit Service Project (24-0492)
July 20, 2026: Tulare six-lane and Paige Avenue Interchange Caltrans Mitigation
Alternatives:
Council could not authorize the purchase of the BEB’s and Caltrans’ TIRCP funds will return to the State for distribution to other transit agencies.
Recommended Motion (and alternative motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with Gillig for the purchase of two (2) 35’ Battery Electric Buses, and appropriate $1,686,000 of Caltrans’ TIRCP funds and $1,443,442 of TCAG’s SB125 State transit funds.
Environmental Assessment Status:
N/A
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Review:
N/A
Deadline for Action: 12/21/2026
Attachments:
Gillig CalACT Contract Quote - September 19, 2026
California DOT Funding Allocation Request - April 27, 2026
Strategic Goal: Indicates which City Strategic Goal(s) this item supports. Check all that apply.
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