2023 Grants Notice of Funding Opportunity | Information Session #2

*NOTE* this webinar will be the same as the 5/10/23 webinar.

Click Here to Register

Attend this webinar to learn more about the Clean School Bus grant opportunity and share your feedback. Applications to this funding opportunity are due Tuesday, August 22, 2023.

For more information, please visit our website: epa.gov/cleanschoolbus

If you have any feedback, please email: cleanschoolbus@epa.gov

$400 million in Clean School Bus grants are now available! Applications are open until August 22, 2023.

Click Here for the Press Release

Key Messages and Background Information

• The $400 million grant opportunity through EPA’s Clean School Bus Program will fund electric, propane, and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses that will produce either zero or low tailpipe emissions compared to their older diesel predecessors.
  
  
• This is the first round of funding available as grants and follows the nearly $1 billion the Biden-Harris Administration awarded through the rebate competition last year to fund electric and low-emission school buses across school districts.
  
  
• This 2023 Grant Program is separate from the earlier 2022 Rebate Program, and interested applicants must apply to the Grant Program if interested in this funding opportunity.
  
  
• Eligible applicants for this funding opportunity are (1) state and local governmental entities that provide bus service; (2) public charter school districts, (3) Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, or Tribally-controlled Schools, (4) Nonprofit School Transportation Associations, and (5) Eligible Contractors (including OEMs, Dealers, School Bus Service Providers, and Private Bus Fleets).
  
  
• EPA will provide a combined funding amount to cover both bus and infrastructure costs for all awardees requesting electric school buses.
  
  
• EPA is prioritizing applications that will replace buses serving high-need local education agencies, Tribal school districts funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs or those receiving basic support payments for students living on Tribal land, and rural areas.

To learn more about the clean school bus grant program, applicant eligibility, selection process, and informational webinar dates, visit www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus.

Carrier liaisons need to recertify their users once a year. User passwords expire after 90 days.

This message was sent to carriers through the 19-A system.

In preparation for the Affidavit of Compliance to be submitted, carrier liaisons should be sure they have recertified their users to have access to the 19-A system. For Liaisons to Recertify:

Go to: https://secap.dmv.ny.gov/

• Select the Remote Administrative VPASS Environment (RAVE) application. (Under the 19A System)
• Read the NYS DMV Memorandum of Understanding-Choose 'I Agree' and submit.
• The next step in the same RAVE menu is to select Recertify all users.
• Once selected you will see S19A18295 with an L1 next to it. Check the box and continue/update until you get back to the main menu again.
• Repeat this process for each user to be recertified. Remove any user that should not be active.
• You will then need to log off and log on again to go into 19A System
• Your next recertification date will be 364 days from the current date. You will need to recertify before that date next year or your account will be locked.

Once your account is locked you must contact busdriverunit@dmv.ny.gov to have your password reset.

U.S. Department of Transportation sent this bulletin at 03/14/2023 01:21 PM EDT

First round of funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Charging and Fueling Infrastructure program will help ensure America’s zero-emission vehicle future is accessible and equitable, no matter where you live.

Click Here to View the Press Release

Click on the images below to hear the audio recording of Nick Vallone, NYSBCA President, testifying and answering questions from the education committee at the 2023 Joint Legislative Budget on Education on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at the Legislative Office building in Albany, NY.

NYSBCA thanks Nick Vallone for representing the private school bus contractors at the budget hearing and for advocating for our industry as we continue to have representation at the State Capitol and look to improve the school bus transportation system, reduce unnecessary costs, and, most importantly— keep our children safe.

Click Here to Listen

JANUARY 03, 2023

NSTA: The Bus Stop - Executive Director, Curt Macysyn interviews Mike Martucci, New York State Senator 42nd District, Former Owner of Quality Bus Service. Mike recaps his journey into the political realm from yellow bus. Curt and Mike outline the driver shortage and its intersection with government. Finally, the duo discuss strategies to build relationships with elected officials.

School Bus Fleet

Published on November 10, 2022

By Amanda Huggett

NEW YORK’S THIRD-PARTY CDL TESTING 

Click here for the full article online.

While we’ve all been feeling the pressure of the driver shortage, the state of New York and its DMV stepped up to offer an alternative solution: It put together a new program to allow third parties to offer CDL testing.

The move came after voiced concerns of the rigorous requirements weren’t helping ease the driver shortage. Following a phased approach announced in January by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, the intent was to create more testing locations across the state and expand capacity at state-run sites to reduce the time it takes to put new qualified drivers on the road.

Public and private organizations, including schools, tour bus, bus contractors, and truck companies, are eligible to apply for certification through the state DMV’s website.

Nick Vallone of Rolling V. Bus Corp and president of the New York School Bus Contractors Association (NYSBCA) walked us through the process to get the new program off the ground, which was done with regulation rather than legislation, he said. “Our proactive efforts of pitching this solution to the media and elected officials really paid off when the driver crisis hit home in September 2021. Once this became an issue that crossed the desk of the governor, they were already familiar with the concept of third-party testing and quickly gave the directive to the DMV to establish a third-party testing division.”

So far, Vallone says the results are phenomenal. “We’ve seen an increase in failures at our site, but that has been severely overshadowed by our ability to re-test within a few days,” he said. “In short, we’ve gotten a single candidate through three tests (two fails followed by a pass) in a matter of three weeks without sacrificing an ounce of safety. To get three tests done for the same individual through the DMV used to take 10 to 12 weeks.”

Tammy L. Mortier, NYSBCA’s executive director, agrees, calling it a tremendous benefit for the school bus contractors that are certified. “The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Third Party CDL Testing program has been an excellent opportunity to help our members with the driver shortage by allowing certified school bus operators to provide private road tests at their facilities,” Mortier said. “This is a huge time saver to get qualified CDL drivers on the road. It's not an easy process, and you must comply with stringent federal and state guidelines to become certified and maintain your certification. Safety is always our number one priority. DMV has been a wonderful partner in this program as we work together to find solutions to the driver shortage.”

Vallone said at least 10 organizations have applied so far, and five are already up and running. It’s not just a program for contractors, though. Recently, Bethlehem Public Schools became a certified third-party tester.

Pennsylvania has had a similar program for years.

Click Here for the full article

Rockefeller Institute of Government

November 22, 2022

By Andrew Van Alstyne and Laura Rabinow

Key Takeaways

• The transition to a zero-emissions fleet will be a long-term project that offers substantial benefits for students, school districts, and their communities.
  
  
• A full transition to zero-emissions technology is a substantial undertaking, but can be realized with further resources and planning for logistical challenges.
  
  
• Some aspects of financing and resources to support the transition are not yet fully clear.

Chalkbeat New York | Essential education reporting in New York

By Reema Amin

Nov 7, 2022, 7:20pm EST

Gov. Kathy Hochul and Lee Zeldin, her Republican opponent, have built large campaign war chests as they seek to win New York state’s highest office on Tuesday. 

While education-focused groups haven’t stuck out as either candidate’s biggest donors, both candidates have received some substantial donations from those who exert influence on New York’s education world — helping to paint a clearer picture of who is hoping to have sway over schools policy. 

Hochul has touted boosting funding for public schools while in office and has earned the endorsements of powerful teachers unions. She recently revealed that she supported lifting the cap on how many charter schools can open in New York. 

Zeldin has voiced strong support for school choice, including charters and private choice options, and has embraced conservative talking points about banning “divisive curriculum” related to race and restricting “age-inappropriate” sex education.

Click Here to read the full article