Meeting_Body
OPERATIONS, SAFETY, AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE COMMITTEE
JULY 17, 2025
Subject
SUBJECT: ZERO EMISSION BUS (ZEB) PROGRAM UPDATE
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE ORAL REPORT
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE oral report on the ZEB Program.
Issue
ISSUE
This update provides a status report on the ZEB transition plan, including division electrification, bus acquisitions, grant efforts, and upcoming program activities.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
The purpose of this report is to provide a program-level status update; project-specific equity impacts are discussed in detail in their respective project reports. Divisions 1, 2, 3, 5, and 9 are located within Equity Focus Communities. Division 9 will be the first to be electrified. The report also illustrates funding and schedule risks to the first half of the division electrification schedule. Because EFCs are often reliant on bus transit, delays to the electrification schedule could disproportionately impact EFCs by delaying air quality improvements through emissions reductions. However, despite these risks, the division electrification schedule currently remains on track.
Vehicle_Miles_Traveled _Outcome
VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED OUTCOME
Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) and VMT per capita in Los Angeles County are lower than national averages, the lowest in the SCAG region, and on the lower end of VMT per capita statewide. These declining VMT trends are due in part to Metro’s significant investment in rail and bus transit.* Metro’s Board-adopted VMT reduction targets align with California’s statewide climate goals, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. To ensure continued progress, all Board items are assessed for their potential impact on VMT.
As part of these ongoing efforts, this item is expected to contribute to further reductions in VMT. This item supports Metro’s systemwide strategy to reduce VMT through operational activities that will maintain and encourage transit ridership. Metro’s transition to a ZEB fleet will enhance customer experience with vehicles that are quiet and use zero-emission technology. Metro’s Board-approved VMT reduction targets were designed to build on the success of existing investments, and this item aligns with those objects.
*Based on population estimates from the United States Census and VMT estimates from Caltrans’ Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) data between 2001-2019.
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Shaun Miller, Deputy Executive Officer, Project Management (213) 922-4952
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Conan Cheung, Chief Operations Officer, (213) 418-3034
