The Federal Transit Administration awarded StarMetro’s TIGGER grant on January 31, 2011.  StarMetro’s contracts with CTE and Proterra were executed in September 2011.  Having all contracts in place, the project team did some initial planning and held a Project Kick-off at Proterra’s offices on October 17, 2011.  The goal of the kick-off was to review the project goals &objectives, task plans, assignments, budget, and procedures.  The kick-off also defined the near term tasks for bus and charging station specifications and modeling.  CTE produced a project workbook containing information pertinent to the project, such as scope, responsibilities, project management approach, budget, and timeline.

The team drafted a high-level work plan and schedule for the charging station site preparation.  StarMetro selected the CK Steele Plaza as the site for the fast charge station because it is the central point for most of StarMetro’s bus routes.  CTE and UT-CEM visited StarMetro and collected route data on six different routes that are in consideration for the electric buses.

The bus requirements were defined and specifications are 95% complete.  Proterra is waiting on change orders from StarMetro to finalize the specification.  Bus production has commenced but is experiencing a delay due to an inventory at Proterra and a part that previously failed Altoona testing.  The rear cradle will either need to be repaired or replaced.