(March 4, 2020) The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is accepting applications for the Volkswagen Trust Transit and Shuttle Bus Program through Tuesday, March 31, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. CDT. Qualifying applicants include government agencies and private entities that own eligible buses.

Mo Dept Natural Resources Accepting Grant applications for Propane Autogas Bus and Shuttle Grants reports BPN the propane industry's leading source for news since 1939Awards shall be used for the replacement of government–owned and nongovernment-owned buses 2009 and older engine model year, Class 4-8 vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 14,000 pounds used for transporting people. School buses, defined as class 4-8 school bus style vehicles (Type A-D) with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 14,000 pounds used to transport students to and from school or school-related activities, are not eligible under this award category.

Applicants may apply to replace eligible buses or re-power eligible buses with cost effective, clean, near-zero emissions propane autogas. The engine model year of the new engine must be the same as the year in which the project occurs or one year prior. The new vehicle must have a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 14,000 pounds and be the same or lower Class 4-8 truck as the vehicle it is replacing. The new vehicle or engine cannot be a gasoline powered engine.

For the purposes of this category, “Government,” means a state or local government agency (including a school district, municipality, city, county, special district, transit district, joint powers authority, or port authority, owning fleets purchased with government funds), and a tribal government or native village.

Highlights include:
  • Eligible engine model years are 2009 and older.
  • Eligible vehicles are government–owned and nongovernment-owned buses 2009 and older engine model year Class 4-8 vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 14,000 pounds used for transporting people. School buses are not eligible under this award category.
  • May receive from 25% to 75% of the cost of the project, depending on repower or replacement, and government or nongovernment ownership.
  • Old engine or vehicle must be permanently disabled.
  • May repower or replace with new diesel, biodiesel, alternate fuel, or all-electric engine.
  • Maximum amount of fund request per applicant this round is $1 million.
  • Any proposed repower or replacement of a bus with a cost effectiveness calculation of more than $50 award dollars per pound of lifetime NOx emission reduction is ineligible to receive funding.
Additional information:
Volkswagen Trust Transit and Shuttle Bus Program Application and instructions--Form, MO 780-2842

Visit Missouri Department of Natural Resources at https://dnr.mo.gov/env/apcp/vw/index.html for additional funding opportunities and to see information listed below:
• Implementation Guidelines
• Program requirements
• SAM II Input Form
•Awarded Projects
(A list that shows applicants awarded under the Transit and Shuttle Bus category. The list includes selected applicants receiving funding from February 2019 to present.)
• Selected Awardees FY19
• Project Ranking Information FY20