Wausau Common Council Approves Application for Grant Funding to Replace Aging Bus Fleet

Thursday, February 29th, 2024 -- 8:01 AM

(Mike Leischner, WSAU) The Wausau City Council has approved an application for grant funding to help replace the city’s aging bus fleet.

According to Mike Leischner with WSAU, Mayor Katie Rosenberg says it could mean up to ten new diesel-powered buses, replacing some models that came to Wausau as cast-offs from other municipal transit systems.

“They’re pretty old,” said Rosenberg. “Some we’ve taken from other communities. [They told us] ‘These are past their useful life’ but we were like ‘Actually, we need them.’ We’re hopeful that once we apply we will get them all.”

The funding would cover up to 90% of the cost, with the city kicking in the final 10% over ten years. The funds come from a $14.7 billion settlement between federal regulators and Volkswagon regarding emissions tests and deceptive advertising practices on its 2.0-liter diesel vehicles.

Rosenberg adds that the city is exploring funding options including unspent CARES funding which could cover most of their share. “It looks like it’s going to work out, so we’ll see if we get all ten. We figured why not push the limit and say exactly what we are looking for, make them back down.”

The grant opportunity also comes after the city was turned down for a previous round of federal funding because they requested diesel buses. “The federal government is kind of turning away from funding diesel. Inflation Reduction Act, bipartisan infrastructure- all of those incentives are for going carbon-neutral or no carbon. That isn’t what we were asking for, and we didn’t get the funding.”

Rosenberg notes that the city can’t charge battery-powered buses or perform maintenance on them, and likely won’t for several years. However, they did receive funding for a study on what the city would need to do to support that technology.

“We’re working on that, but it’s not going to be addressed by these buses. We do pretty much need them desperately. Moving to hybrid or electric will take a bit more planning,” added Rosenberg.

It’s unclear when the city will hear the results of the application, or when the new buses could be on the road. The news also comes as the city prepares to welcome Aaron Hursey as the new Transit Director next week.

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