The main focus, Clegg explains, is to work steadily towards electrifying the downtown’s main station in Boise. “Then we can do route charging there and the buses that leave the base in the morning can route during the day and make the full day with all of those charges without having to go back to base.” Supply chain issues have posed somewhat of a challenge, Clegg admits, in meeting targets on its preferred time schedule. Valley Regional Transit is still waiting for one of the parts necessary to fully implement the infrastructure needed to support the electrification of the fleet. In the meantime, Clegg adds, “We are working on the State Street corridor which is also our only designated bus rapid transit route. “We are looking at what we can do on route charging, likely at the end of the route; however the plans there are not fully developed.” Clegg also notes that Valley Regional Transit is keeping busy with work on bus stop infrastructure along the route to ensure that near-level boarding, good shelters with real-time displays, and other key amenities adding positively to the passenger experience, are in place. “Electrification is still the right way to go and the city of Boise is very committed to a carbon neutral goal of their own. So we are pretty confident that ultimately these issues will get worked out.” “With any technology, you find these disruptions.” INFRASTRUCTURE DRIVING GROWTH Investing in the Valley Transit’s main bus facility in Ada County has taken center stage when investing in capital infrastructure. “The facility is near the airport and we have completely rebuilt the yard itself. We have all new asphalt, all new charging stations, all new parking, and now we are even getting to the point of going 143 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 04 VALLEY REGIONAL TRANSIT
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI5MjAx