TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Michael A. Hursh, General Manager/Chief Executive Officer
SUBJECT: USDOT FY24 SMART Grant Application
ACTION ITEM
AGENDA PLANNING REQUEST: ?
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider authorizing the General Manager or his designee to file and execute applications, and any resulting funding agreements or other such documentation required, for the U.S Department of Transportation (USDOT) Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) grant for the Zero Emission Bus Data Integration and Management Environment System (ZEBDIME) Project.
Staff Contact:
Chris Andrichak, Chief Financial Officer
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
Goal - Financial Stability and Resiliency
Initiative - Financial Efficiency and Revenue Maximization
The proposed project will improve service efficiency and enhance service reliability by improving the charging management of battery electric buses.
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
Staff recommends applying for up to $2 million of SMART Program grant funding to plan and develop the ZEBDIME. ZEBDIME will use Artificial Intelligence and system automation to integrate transit data sources and determine optimized bus charging management that maximizes charging schedules to support transit service.
This grant does not require a local match.
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
On May 13, 2024, the USDOT issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the SMART Grant program. The purpose of the SMART Grant is to conduct demonstration projects focused on advanced smart city or community technologies and systems in a variety of communities to improve transportation efficiency and safety. The program funds projects that are focused on using technology innovations to solve real-world challenges, and building data and technology capacity and expertise in the public sector.
Staff is planning to develop and test software solutions that will maximize battery changing management to support ...
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