Asset Life

Q. Is there an expected (FTA required) life for bus radios? Where would these be found in the grant documentation? We are purchasing a bus cad/avl system and the contracted radio supplier is in the process of discontinuing the particular model we had planned on. The replacement radio model is not currently supported by the cad/avl vendor. Since the original radio specs required adherence to FTA requirements, we would like to know if there are any product life requirements. A. FTA has no asset life requirements regarding bus radio systems.

Q. Does refurbishment of a bus at the middle of the normal service life (service life being 12 years) add any additional service years to the bus? Agency is planning on doing mid-life refurbishment of 20 buses. A. If the bus was constructed as a 12-year bus, the fact that a transit agency may perform a mid-life service extension would not alter that categorization. However, the refurbishment may affect its salvage (resale) value which may trigger the property disposition provisions in FTA's Master Agreement (if the asset is worth more than $5000).

Q. Where do I get a list of what we should be using for the life of assets? I do not see anything specific in the FTA documentation. It refers to "retirement before its useful life," yet gives no place to go to get the information. Property, plant and equipment used for both BUS and LRT operation. (such as the track, railcars, and other equipment: office, shop, Park and Rides, Shelters, Stations, etc.) I currently use Publication 946 as an idea. It does not cover most assets used in BUS or LRT. They show 5 or 9 years for a bus and there is no LRT listed but has Railroad cars at 4 or 15 yrs (GDS v/s ADS method) for example. Do you have clearer guidelines? We are going live with LRT soon in the twin cities. Would like review our lives for BUS and need to add lives for LRT. A. In FTA Circular 9300.1A, See Chapter III for service life (useful life) for buses. See Chapter IV for service life (useful life) for rail vehicles.