Elliot Lake city council approved directing staff to purchase three new transit buses for $146,500 each - plus applicable taxes and fees - at its meeting on Monday evening.
“Our standard fleet of buses is reaching the end of its service life,” said Bill Goulding, acting director of public works.
The buses will be purchased from bus vendor Girardin.
“They have them in stock and available for delivery this summer if we place an order before March 1,” Goulding told council.
Staff recommended that upon delivery of the new buses, two existing buses be sold from the city’s fleet, with one being retained in case of unanticipated breakdowns in one of the three new buses.
The cost for the buses will be drawn from the City of Elliot Lake’s Licensed and Unlicensed Vehicle Reserve.
“I think if we act now and we give staff the okay to get these three buses, that could be a potential savings of $4,000 to $6,000 per unit versus the new price that’s going to happen on March 1, and that’s $20,000 in our pockets,” said Coun. Luc Morrissette.
The price for three new buses from another vendor - Macnab Transit Sales Corp. - was $155,727 per unit.
It is anticipated the city could be able to sell two of its older buses for $30,000 to $40,000 each.