The city of Gary, Indiana plans to replace 120 cars and trucks in its aging auto fleet this year with new flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) paid for with a $3 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration.

Christopher Meyers who is the Gary director of planning notes that they will be purchasing 86 FFV Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor patrol cars and 14 FFV Ford F-150 pickups along with Ford Escape hybrids.

Once the vehicles are received by the city, Meyers said, Gary can send a copy of the bill to the Indiana Department of Transportation, which will send the city the federal funds to cover the full cost of the purchases.

“A total of $3 million has been set aside by the Indiana Department of Transportation for Gary to use for new vehicles and for a new E85 fuel pump,” Meyers said. The grant is part of the FHA’s Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program. “I’m greatly appreciative.”

Gary was also awarded $52,200 for five 4,000-gallon rounds of E85 fuel for the patrol cars and pick-up trucks.