University of Iowa, Iowa State bus systems land grants supporting eco-friendly upgrades

IOWA CITY — Transit systems across Iowa recently landed $77.2 million in Federal Transit Administration grant funding, including $20.8 million to make the University of Iowa and Iowa State University bus systems more environmentally-friendly.

CyRide — celebrating its 50th year serving Iowa State — received $14.6 million to expand its facility and convert 20 buses to biodiesel; Cambus — shuttling UI students for 54 years — got $6.2 million to replace six 17- and 18-year-old buses with diesel-electric hybrid versions.

Beyond the environmental benefits, UI transportation officials said the replacement project will improve service and the rider experience.

“Newer buses require less maintenance and are less likely to cause service disruptions due to breakdowns,” UI Cambus officials said in reporting the award. “They will also offer a more comfortable riding experience for the university community.”

Iowa State’s nearly $15 million award supports its major expansion of CyRide’s administrative, maintenance and bus storage facility that will:

CyRide already has five B100 buses as part of a pilot program launched last year, and officials report promising results — including reduced emissions.

“B100 continues to perform well in our pilot, and this funding allows us to build on that success across more of our fleet,” CyRide Transit Director Barbara Neal said in a statement — referencing the larger facility-expansion initiative.

“This project will give our employees the space and resources needed to support our transit system, and it allows us to expand our use of B100 — a clean, Iowa-grown fuel that benefits the environment and strengthens our state’s agricultural economy.”

Cambus expansion

The University of Iowa also is in the midst of a $23 million expansion of its Cambus Maintenance Facility — thanks to a separate $16.4 million federal grant to increase bus storage, accommodate electric buses and chargers, and centralize administrative, driver and maintenance staff.

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The new facility will house not just Cambus but all of Fleet Services — which maintains the entire UI vehicle fleet, including more than 500 university vehicles that can be rented for official university business.

Its recently awarded grant supporting replacement of six buses — through the FTA’s “Low and No Emissions Program” — supports the larger reimagining of UI transit services.

“Our goal is to provide safe and accessible transportation services to everyone on campus,” Cambus Manager Mia Brunelli said. “Investments like these to improve our fleet and infrastructure are vital to achieving that goal.”

The new buses will replace six buses bought in 2008 and 2009 that were supposed to be retired nearly four years ago in 2022.

“Because the maintenance costs for older buses are 60 to 70 percent higher, replacing them will also significantly lower costs,” officials said.

By the numbers

Cambus provides more than 12,000 daily rides to the UI community — including to and from class, work, home, events and recreation facilities. Annually, that amounts to more than 3 million rides a year on 13 fixed routes — or 80,000 annual hours of service.

Conceived and started by UI students in 1972 to improve access between the east and west sides of campus, Cambus continues to be operated and supervised by students — with 160 student employees.

Iowa State’s CyRide — from its genesis in 1976 when it was a “Dial-A-Ride door-to-door system” — in the 2025 budget year tallied nearly 5 million passengers and 1.5 million “revenue miles.”

The system has 89 buses and 214 employees — requiring $15 million in operating expenses last year.

Other FTA grants to Iowa in 2025 included $8.7 million to the City of Iowa City for diesel and paratransit buses to replace older models; $27.8 million to the Iowa Department of Transportation for new buses and vans; and another $19.9 million to the DOT for hybrid buses and bus facility expansions on behalf of four rural transit systems.

Vanessa Miller covers higher education for The Gazette.

Comments: (319) 339-3158; vanessa.miller@thegazette.com