Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
Consent
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION NO. 23-072, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CARSON CITY COUNCIL, APPROVING THE CITY OF CARSON ZERO-EMISSION BUS ROLLOUT PLAN" (CITY COUNCIL)
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I. SUMMARY
The Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) regulation from California Air Resources Board (CARB) requires all California public transit agencies to gradually transition their bus fleets to zero-emission technologies. Starting in 2026, the City must purchase zero-emission buses (ZEBs) only, with a goal to transition the entire fleet to ZEBs by 2040. As part of ICT regulation requirements, the City Council is asked to adopt the City’s Zero-Emission Bus Rollout Plan to execute this transition (Exhibit No. 1; “Rollout Plan”).
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
WAIVE further reading and ADOPT Resolution No. 23-072, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CARON CITY COUNCIL, APPROVING THE CITY OF CARSON ZERO-EMISSION BUS ROLLOUT PLAN” (Exhibit No. 2; “Resolution No. 23-072”).
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III. ALTERNATIVES
TAKE another action the City Council deems appropriate.
IV. BACKGROUND
The ICT regulation was created by CARB to help effectuate statewide efforts in transitioning to zero-emissions technologies. All public transit agencies, regardless of size, are required to transition to a full ZEB fleet by 2040. Starting in 2026, CARB requires 25% of all new bus purchases to be zero-emissions, and gradually scale to 100% by 2040.
To demonstrate the agency’s approach and dedication to electrification, each agency’s governing body must adopt a Zero-Emission Bus Rollout Plan (Rollout Plan) by June 30, 2023. As such, Transportation staff have drafted the City’s Rollout Plan, identifying fleet needs, replacement schedule, capital planning, and identification of barriers and opportunities.
The City owns and operates four buses for the Carson Circuit fixed-route bus service. Two primary buses operate on compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel, whereas the other two back-up buses operate on diesel fuel. In line with agencies of similar size, staff is in a unique position of having to replace a relatively small number of buses, but are limited in applying for federal grants as requirements tend to suit the needs and competencies of larger transit agencies. Despite this, staff have been able to tap regional and state funding sources to overcome this hurdle.
HVIP
On March 15, 2022, the City Council approved the purchase of two battery electric buses (BEBs) for use on the Carson Circuit. Prior to this approval, staff had initiated an application for the state’s Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP) for discount vouchers worth up to $120,000. In partnership with a HVIP-authorized dealership, the City currently has an order in place for two BEBs, with delivery estimated to take place in FY 2023-24.
Additional funding
To fund remaining costs of the first BEBs, staff intends to utilize Proposition A and C local returns and Air Quality Management District (AQMD) AB2766 allocations.
Charge-Ready Transport Program
Southern California Edison (SCE) offers infrastructure upgrades and charging station rebates to eligible agencies as part of its Charge-Ready Transport Program. Under this program, SCE will design and install all related infrastructure to support charging for up to four buses. This endeavor has been spearheaded by the Innovation Sustainability and Performance Management (ISPM) Department.
Rollout Plan
To complete the City’s full transition to BEBs, staff must wait until 2031 before replacing the final bus to avoid early retirement of conventional buses as defined by Federal Transit Authority (FTA) useful life benchmarks. Nonetheless, the City is still in a position to achieve its transition well ahead of CARB’s 2040 deadline.
Upon approval of the Rollout Plan by the City Council, staff will submit a copy of the executed resolution to CARB by June 30, 2023.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
None. The approval of the Rollout Plan does not require any expenditures of funds.
VI. EXHIBITS
1. Rollout Plan (pgs. 4-10).
2. Resolution No. 23-072 (pgs. 11-12).
Prepared by: Jason Jo, Transportation Program Manager