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Finding Finances for Cleaner Buses
Making the Way for Environmentally Cleaner Buses
Introduction
Although some communities have a general plan to meet their school district's routine bus replacement needs, many may not have the resources to meet them as quickly as they would hope. While there are no Federal mandates for school districts to retrofit or replace their school buses to meet current emission standards, communities want to provide the healthiest conditions possible for transporting their students to school, which includes reducing their exposure to diesel exhaust from school buses.
Students may be riding on these older buses from half-an-hour to two hours per day; it is important to recognize that the emissions from these older buses may have health impacts on the overall community, as well as the students riding those buses. Children are more susceptible to air pollution than healthy adults because their respiratory systems are still developing and they have a faster breathing rate. With nearly 1 in 13 children in the U.S. having asthma and it being the most common, chronic disease among children, the emphasis for newer, cleaner buses is even more important for a community to consider.
What Needs to Be Considered
There are funding sources for districts interested in getting a jump start on purchasing healthier buses. These sources are available for funding the cost differential between a bus meeting current emission standards and one that meets future, reduced, emission standards. They also may fund the price difference between diesel fuel and alternative fuels or the cost of an additional retrofit technology.
What resources do the school districts have?
These outside funding sources may require or recommend a match by the school district; either through monetary or other resource means. Determine the school district’s available resources, whether in-kind (such as staff time) or financial, that could be used as a match for the funds.
What is the age of the existing bus fleet?
By assessing the fleet age and condition, the school district will be more prepared to apply for these outside funds by showing proof of their need for accelerating the replacement rate. Fleet information can be detailed on a "Fleet Information Table" (PDF, 1 page, 72K, About PDF).
Can the school district identify area-specific funding sources?
Sometimes a community or state may make this a priority and support accelerated replacement projects through public/private partnerships that target the overall region or specified locations within the state. State environmental, health, education or transportation agencies, along with student transportation organizations or local municipal planning organizations found in the state, may have additional information regarding these funds.
Also, awareness of the school district’s budget and its sources
is important. Some districts may work with their community to have
an accelerated diesel school bus replacement program as an earmark
for part of their general school capital program. In addition, some
state programs (i.e., California’s
Carl Moyer Program 
or the Texas Emission Reduction Program [TERP] and corporate sponsorships may be available for total or partial
replacement costs. Many regions of the country have non-profit groups
that identify potential funding sources for community-based projects,
and include corporate sponsorships, in-kind gifts or special event
fundraising.
If funding is still limited, the school district may consider an interim measure until funding can be found. By working with a regional school association or neighboring districts, the school district may be able to identify other districts which are replacing their buses. These buses may be newer and purchasing these could result in overall emission reductions for the school district while they are seeking funds for the newest buses.
To find out more about funding sources, visit the Clean School Bus USA Grants and Funding web site.