Alternative Fuel & Infrastructure Project

MTA is proposing a major $22 million capital project that will rebuild offices and maintenance facilities on our existing property on Plant Road south of Ukiah.

Existing facilities are overcrowded, ineffective and energy inefficient. This project will sustainably design new buildings to LEED standards (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). The administration building will have room for expansion and a Board meeting room. The roofs of these buildings will host enough solar panels to generate all of the electrical energy required to operate them over the course of a year.

The MTA also desires to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of our fleet. Therefore, the Board adopted a policy of shifting vehicle purchases to hybrid drive systems as quickly and practically as possible, and eventually shift to electric propulsion to the extent that fits with our operating needs. In order to provide electrical energy for charging the batteries of plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles, and for our other three operating divisions (in Willits, Fort Bragg and Point Arena), this project will include construction of canopies over bus, employee and visitor parking areas to host more solar panels. These canopies will also offer shade in summer, and protection from frost and rain in winter.

MTA is seeking federal economic stimulus money, state bond funds and energy-related grants, among others. Construction is scheduled to start in fall 2010 with completion expected by January 2014.

Details of the project, and an application for a federal Department of Transportation economic stimulus grant, can be found through the following links.