It’s costing $262 more to buy and install a charging station for Manteca Transit’s first electric van than it is for the van.

The City Council Tuesday authorized the charging station acquisition from A-Z Bus Sales for placement at the Manteca Transit Station at 220 Moffat Blvd.

The cost is $115,894.

On March 15, the council approved buying a 2023 Ford electric van for $115,637 for Dial-a-Ride services.

It is part of the city’s effort to start shifting to a zero-emission bus fleet by 2040 as mandated by the State of California.

Currently, Manteca Transit’s Dial-a-Ride services consist of three 24-foot long, gas powered, cutaway buses.

The electric van will not replace a bus but rather support Manteca Transit’s Dial-a-Ride service due to an increase in ridership.

The cost of the new van is being covered by state and federal grants.

The city is paying for the charging station upfront. The purchase does quality for the city to be reimbursed from a fund the state has set up to help initiate the transition to electric transit vehicles.

The transition to electric vehicles is  just one of the many changes contemplated for the municipal transit service.

Within the next several years when ACE trains start stopping at the downtown transit center at 220 Moffat Boulevard, routes are expected to be adjusted to time with departures and arrivals.

It means the day is coming when commuters to San Jose — and other points in the Bay Area as well as Sacramento — could walk to the nearest fixed route Manteca Transit bus stop, ride to the station, and board an ACE train.

Currently, Manteca Transit operates two morning shuttles and two afternoon shuttles between the downtown transit center and the Lathrop/Manteca ACE station in West Yosemite Avenue.

For more information about Manteca Transit services, log on to www.MantecaTransit.com or call 209.456.8888.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com