Committee forwards bid to buy two ADA paratransit vans to full council

The Jonesboro Finance Administration Committee on Monday moved to forward to the full City Council a resolution accepting a quote to purchase two low-floor BraunAbility ADA vans for the city’s transit service.

Transit staff said the vehicles would replace an aging paratransit unit and provide an available spare. "That vehicle has actually been two vehicles put together to make one functioning vehicle," Transit staff (S5) said, describing why replacement is needed. Staff said the purchase is available through Oklahoma contract SW0797MFY2026 and that the federal/local cost-share shows an 85% federal match and a 15% local match.

A resident, Patty Latt of Forest Hill Road, asked how many buses the city currently operates. Transit staff replied the system typically operates seven buses with four fixed routes and seven or eight paratransit vehicles used on any given day, and that the new vans would help restore rotation and reduce mileage on older vehicles.

The committee took no final purchase vote at the meeting; it forwarded the resolution to the full council for final action. The transcript’s price line for the vehicles was garbled and did not provide a clear per-unit or total dollar amount; the packet referenced a reciprocal contract and a quoted vendor, Creative Bus Sales, supplying BraunAbility vehicles.