DOT Awards 16 California Transit Authorities $233.9 Million For Low and Zero Emission Buses

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced on Tuesday that various Californian cities and transit authorities would receive $233.9 million in grants to fund 16 mass transit projects aimed at transitioning to low-and zero-emission bus models.

Overall, DOT said that, through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), $1.5 billion in funding will go to support 117 projects public transportation improvement projects in 47 states. The DOT also noted that the projects would help meet the 2050 zero emissions goal that President Joe Biden set out to meet early in his term,

“Today, another 117 communities across 47 states are receiving the good news that their transit buses are being modernized and their commutes improved through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in a statement. “The Biden-Harris Administration is helping agencies replace old buses running on dirtier, expensive fuels by delivering modern and zero-emission buses, manufactured by American workers, that will connect more people to where they need to go.”

Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) announced California’s share shortly afterwards. California will get the largest part of the funding, with $233.9 million of the funding. The two largest recipients in California were the LA Metro and the Sacramento Regional Transit District. Los Angeles is to get $77.5 million for dozens of new electric buses and chargers. Sacramento, meanwhile, is to receive $76.8 million to replace older buses with hydrogen fuel cell buses.

“For too long, communities along busy transit corridors — especially lower income communities — have felt the impact of poor air quality,” said Senator Padilla in a statement. “This substantial investment in the transition to low- and zero-emission buses will protect public health and promote a cleaner commute for millions of Californians. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is not only building a more sustainable, dependable transportation system, but also building the workforce needed to deploy modern technology.”

Other recipients included:

• Western Contra Costa Transit Authority – $20.6 million – Hydrogen fuel cell bus replacements
• Alameda Contra Costa Transit District – $15 million – Hydrogen fuel cell bus replacements
• City of Commerce Transit – $14.2 million – Electric bus replacements
• Omnitrans (San Bernardino) – $8.4 million – Electric bus replacements
• Tahoe Transportation District – $7.9 million – Diesel/Electric hybrid bus replacements

$233.9 million for California

Other projects under $5 million include Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians, Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transportation District, San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority, Kings County Area Public Transit Agency, City of Davis, Humboldt Transit Authority , Redwood Coast Transit Authority, Lassen Transit Service Agency, and the Morongo Basin Transit Authority. In the case of the latter few, the grants only amount to one new bus being granted.

Tuesday’s grant announcement was only the latest in recent similar grants for low to zero emissions bus replacements. Last year, $184 million in similar grants by the DOT were given out. In January, California received $88 million to get new electric school buses across the state.

The latest grants are expected to further lead to state and federal zero emission goals. However, many experts point out flaws in the plans.

“Well, when it comes to the electric and hybrid electric ones, you need to realize the bigger strain that will be put on California’s electrical grid,” explained utilities advisor Marco Kirkpatrick to the Globe on Tuesday. “California lucked out by extending Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant through 2030, so they have more time to meet electrical goals while phasing out oil and gas power plants. But California is not meeting demand without it. Solar and Wind plants take time to go up, as do other alternate energy plants. So when you have all these electric chargers and a focus on electric vehicles, that only worsens the problem. We need to fix the electrical grid issue first, but no one is stopping to think.”

“As for hydrogen fuel cells, they have problems too. They are more expensive to fuel, there are almost no refueling stations, and, my God, the safety issues. The fuel is extremely flammable, and electrical shock is big danger. But going back to cost, notice that they aren’t giving fuel estimates. It’s going to cost those cities a lot to fuel them. At least with electric you can tie that with electricity costs. It’s true that fuel cell engines are more efficient, but hydrogen costs burn right into that.”

More grants for California mass transit alternative buses are expected to be announced later this year.