SEATS adds first electric bus to paratransit fleet to run county's same-day service

Johnson County's transit department has added a fully electric bus to its fleet.

The bus will operate through the SEATS program, which provides low-cost paratransit and "demand-response" rides to Johnson County residents. The service offers rides to those who may not be served by local bus routes and would not be able to get around otherwise, county Transportation and Fleet Director Dawn Alam said.

The addition of this electric bus helps SEATS replace its current same-day service vehicle, a minivan, and introduces the first electric vehicle to the county's transportation fleet.

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Electric bus will begin operation on same-day service

Alam said the electric bus will have a 150-mile range, considerably shorter than the diesel-operated SEATS' full-day service across Johnson County.

The charge range may fluctuate based on several factors including changing weather, Alam said, but that should still equate to between four and five hours of consecutive service before requiring a charge. The county also purchased a quick charger that can fully charge the battery in about two hours.

"We are expecting some pretty large fuel savings," Alam said.

Alam did not want to speculate about a specific amount of savings her department expects over a traditional bus and said the department will continue to monitor its electricity usage and compare costs as the bus hits the road.

The bus is equipped with a wheelchair lift and other items to accommodate disabled riders. A problem with the lift delayed the deployment of the new vehicle to the end of August.

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Fleet's first electric bus a 'learning experience'

Johnson County purchased the bus for $285,000 with money from its American Rescue Plan Act grant.

SEATS officials wanted to add this bus to the fleet for a few years, but the "modified school bus" model they desired was not widely manufactured at the time they ordered it. The first estimated delivery date was last summer.

The addition of the electric bus serves as a "learning experience," Alam said, as the organization continues to wrestle with aging buses and look to the future.

"We're trying to always find more sustainable ways to do what we're doing (and) lower our environmental impact," Alam said. "There's definitely a big push in the transit industry to see what we can do better."

From 2023: Rides within Iowa City will be free, other locations $2-$5

What is SEATS?

SEATS services assist people with disabilities, senior citizens and others who may struggle to get to essential products or services, like the grocery store or doctor's appointments, Alam said.

Alam said SEATS operates like a paratransit system within Iowa City, Coralville and North Liberty, which have varying degrees of public transportation. Outside of those areas, Alam said the county organization provides their demand-based ride service, which essentially takes reservations and provides round-trip service to their desired location.

Now, with the help of the county's ARPA money, SEATS has been able to add same-day service, allowing people to get to urgent, non-emergency medical appointments or the grocery store, Alam said. About 60% of riders are frequent "appointment riders," Alam previously told the Press-Citizen .

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How much does a ride cost?

Same-day, on-demand service is $5.

One-way rides scheduled ahead of time are $2 for Johnson County residents, except if the ride begins and ends in Iowa City or University Heights. Those trips are available at no cost.

Riders are billed by SEATS and must pay off their monthly dues before they can ride again. The average cost of a paratransit trip to rural areas is about $30 for the county, according to the organization's Rider's Guide .

Rides are available at various times depending on where riders live. Outside of Iowa City, Coralville and North Liberty, rides operate from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Inside those city limits, times vary. All SEATS schedules are available on the organization's website .

Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at rhansen@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01.

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: SEATS adds first electric bus to paratransit fleet to run county's same-day service