Meeting_Body
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
MARCH 18, 2021
Subject
SUBJECT: ZERO EMISSION BUS ROLLOUT PLAN
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATION
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
APPROVE Zero Emission Bus Rollout Plan for submittal to California Air Resources Board (CARB).
Issue
ISSUE
CARB’s Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) Regulation requires all public agencies in the State of California to submit a Zero Emission Rollout Plan, approved by the agency’s governing body, describing the agency’s strategy to transition to 100% zero emission bus operation by 2040.
Background
BACKGROUND
In December 2018, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved the Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) Regulation which requires all public transit agencies in the state to transition from conventional buses (compressed natural gas, diesel, etc.) to ZEBs (battery-electric or fuel cell electric) by 2040. The regulation requires a progressive increase of an agency’s new bus purchases to be ZEBs based on their fleet size.
To ensure that each agency has a strategy to comply with the 2040 requirement, the ICT regulation requires each agency to submit a ZEB Rollout Plan (Rollout Plan) before purchase requirements take effect. The Rollout Plan is considered a living document and is meant to guide the implementation of ZEB fleets and help transit agencies work through many of the potential challenges and explore solutions.
As a “Large Transit Agency”, as defined by the CARB ICT regulation, Metro was originally required to submit a Board-approved Rollout Plan by July 1, 2020. However, due to the severe impact the COVID-19 pandemic to agencies’ operations, budgets, and schedules, CARB staff has permitted larger transit bus agencies to request an extension. Metro requested an extension on June 29, 2020 to submit the Rollout Plan by December 31, 2020. CARB granted the extension on June 30th, 2020. Due to resource impacts with COVID, Metro requested another extension on October 22, 2020 to submit the Rollout Plan by March 31, 2021. CARB granted the extension on October 27, 2020.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
California Air Resources Board (CARB) Zero Emission Bus Rollout Plan
Pursuant to the CARB ICT Regulation, Metro’s Rollout Plan (Attachment A) describes the plan to meet CARB’s 2040 ZEB goals. Since Metro’s goal is to transition by approximately 2030, Metro’s Rollout Plan is more aggressive than the ICT Rule’s schedule and thus complies with the CARB ICT regulation.
Zero Emission Bus Program Master Plan
The ICT Regulation Rollout Plan is derived the Metro’s ZE Master Plan. The key difference is that the ICT Regulation specifies a generic format and level of information to be provided by all California transit bus agencies. Metro’s ZE Master Plan is customized for Metro’s Operations.
The Rollout Plan (Plan) is based on pre-COVID-19 pandemic operations. While no change to Metro’s goal of transitioning to a 100% ZEB bus fleet by 2030 fleet is recommended at this time, staff is investigating potential impacts that changes to revenue, ridership, and service levels may have to the Plan and the Board’s 2030 goal.
In parallel:
• Staff continues to refine development of layover charging locations in preparation for additional modeling of battery bus performance with on-route charging options, including for the Pasadena-North Hollywood Bus Rapid Transit Project.
• Staff continues to coordinate with Southern California Edison's (SCE) as they work to electrify the Silver Line. SCE’s method of service (MOS) study preliminary analyses is anticipated to be complete by September 2020. This study will inform Metro on strategies to electrify Division 9 and El Monte Station, including considerations for energy storage and siting.
Should staff identify any issues that will result in material changes to the Plan or schedule, Metro will inform the Board and CARB as required by the ICT regulations.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
This recommendation will have a positive impact on system safety, service quality, and system reliability for our customers.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Adoption of the Rollout Plan would have no additional financial impact to the agency. Financial impact is consistent with previous Master Plan updates.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
This item supports the following Strategic Goals: 1) Provide high-quality mobility options that enable people to spend less time traveling and 2) Provide responsive, accountable, and trustworthy governance within the Metro organization.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
Staff could request another extension, but such an action would likely not be approved by CARB.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
If this action is approved, staff will submit the Rollout Plan to CARB by March 31, 2021 as directed.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Metro’s Rollout Plan
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Marc Manning, Sr. Director, Vehicle Engineering & Acquisition, (213) 922-5871
Jesus Montes, Sr. Executive Officer, Vehicle Engineering & Acquisition, (213) 418-3277
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: James T. Gallagher, Chief Operations Officer, (213) 418-3108
