STATEWIDE - On August 23, 2024, Governor Polis and the Colorado Department of Transportation announced $31.7 million in new grants to help local governments, nonprofits and service providers continue Colorado’s transition to electric vehicles, including transit buses. $15 million approved by the Colorado Clean Transit Enterprise (CTE) board will fund new vehicles and infrastructure improvements, and $16.7 million from the Volkswagen Settlement Program will be invested in electric transit buses and associated charging infrastructure. The CTE and VW programs combined will bring 28 new electric transit buses to Colorado. 

“Coloradans are excited about the future of Electric Vehicles and Colorado continues to be a national leader in EV sales. This support will help ensure that Colorado’s EV transition doesn’t stop at personal vehicles but makes our buses and public transportation options cleaner too. Colorado continues to expand transportation options that get Coloradans where we need to go and reduce pollution,” said Governor Polis. 

The CTE grant awards will invest $1,500,000 for 1 facility project, $384,000 for 1 infrastructure project, and $13,116,000 for 9 vehicle projects. The VW grant awards will invest $16,760,803 for 3 vehicle projects. 

“This is an exciting milestone for the State of Colorado’s commitment to high-quality transit that contributes twice-over to cleaner air for us all. Not only do the transit services receiving these awards offer great service to local residents that gives them an option other than their cars, these funds will also invest in state-of-the-art vehicles and infrastructure that will make those transit trips the cleanest possible option,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. 

Details for the award recipients are included below: 

CTE Facilities Award:

- Via Mobility Services will construct bus canopies and install solar panels, battery storage, and electrical equipment at the existing Via Mobility Services operations and fleet maintenance center in Boulder. The project includes solar PV panels, Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), Control System (hardware and software), all electrical upgrades, including relaying, switching, and grid interconnection equipment; awarded $1,500,000. This will also be the first fleet electrification plus microgrid project in Colorado, serving as a model for other public or private fleets to build upon.

CTE Infrastructure Award:

- The Town of Avon will purchase and install one charger with two charging ports to the Avon Regional Transportation Facility to charge battery electric buses.

CTE Vehicle Awards:

- Laradon Hall Society for Exceptional Children and Adults will purchase two electric vans to replace existing rolling stock: awarded $238,484.
- Developmental Disabilities Resource Center (DDRC) will purchase two electric vans to replace existing rolling stock: awarded $150,000.
- Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) will replace 10 diesel buses with battery electric bus models: awarded $5,460,000.
- Town of Breckenridge will purchase 7 battery electric buses to replace existing rolling stock and chargers to support: awarded $2,943,112.
- The Town of Winter Park will purchase 2 battery electric buses to replace existing rolling stock: awarded $966,420.
- The Town of Telluride will purchase 1 electric cutaway shuttle bus to replace existing rolling stock: awarded $164,507.
- The Town of Avon will purchase 2 battery electric buses to replace existing rolling stock: awarded $1,714,706.
- The City of Fort Collins will purchase 1 battery electric bus to replace existing rolling stock: awarded $882,945.
- The City of Boulder will purchase 1 battery electric bus to replace existing rolling stock and expand its existing service fleet: awarded $595,826.

VW Settlement Program Awards: CDOT Transit and Rail staff, who are the team responsible for administering Colorado’s remaining VW Settlement Program funds, recommended complementary funding to the proposals from three local governments. The funding from the VW Settlement Program, combined with the partial funding from the CTE Vehicle Awards listed above, will fully support these communities’ clean transit plans.

- The Town of Breckenridge was awarded $1,518,660 to complete their project to purchase 7 battery electric buses to replace existing rolling stock and chargers.
- Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) was awarded $10,080,000 to complete their project to replace 10 diesel buses with battery electric bus models and purchase and install five dual depot chargers (10 total plugs) to charge new buses.
- The Town of Winter Park was awarded $1,518,660 to complete their project to purchase 2 battery electric buses to replace existing rolling stock.

The Volkswagen Settlement Program was established as a result of the national Volkswagen Settlement designed to offset the impacts of a diesel emissions cheating scandal. In Colorado, a portion of the funds received by the state are available to fund the direct replacement of pre-2009 Class 4-8 conventionally powered transit vehicles with new zero-emission transit vehicles - specifically battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell, or compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles fueled by renewable natural gas (RNG).  

About the Clean Transit Enterprise

The Clean Transit Enterprise was created within the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to support public transit electrification planning efforts, facility upgrades, fleet motor vehicle replacement, as well as construction and development of electric motor vehicle charging and fueling infrastructure. The enterprise was established in 2021 and is authorized to impose a clean transit retail delivery fee to fund its operations, and to issue grants, loans or rebates to support electrification of public transit.