On Wednesday, the Phoenix City Council voted to spend over $100 million on new electric buses. Standard competition in the procurement process was waived based on “Special Circumstances,” in the selection of Washington State Transit Bus Cooperative and the vehicle provider.
“Electric busses are stupidly expensive, the technology is not ready to support fleet conversion, and charging requirements for these busses mean we’ll end up needing two or three electric busses to replace each of our existing gas-powered ones,” said Phoenix City Council candidate Sam Stone.
“Further, hydrogen combustion is a far better technology for heavy vehicles than battery electric and Arizona is the home of Nikola – the world’s leading innovator of hydrogen powered heavy vehicles,” explained Stone, the former chief of staff of Councilman Sal DiCiccio. “This is just another short-sighted attempt at virtue signaling by this City Council.”
On Tuesday, Phoenix City Council voted to approve the proposed $500 million 2023 GO Bond Program as presented by the GO Bond Executive Committee.
Phoenix City Council approved the following allocations per program area totaling $500 million:.
- Arts & Culture – $50,385,000
- Economic Development & Education – $38,000,000
- Environment & Sustainability – $26,000,000
- Housing, Human Services & Homelessness – $63,000,000
- Neighborhoods & City Services – $44,615,000
- Parks & Recreation – $64,000,000
- Public Safety – $132,500,000
- Streets & Storm Drainage – $81,500,000