Zero-Emission Bus
Rollout Plan
Section A: Transit Agency Information
City of Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus
1660 Seventh Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Big Blue Bus is part of South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) and part of
South Coast Air Basin.
Peak Vehicles: 162
Population: (optional)
Contact Information:
Edward F.
King
Director of Transit Services
(310) 458-1975
Ed.ki
ng@smgov.
net
Modica, Getty
Transit Maintenance
Manager
(310)
458
-1975 x50
09
Getty.
et
Big Blue Bus is not part of a
Joint Zero-Emission Bus Group.
Section B: Rollout Plan General Information
In 2016, the Santa Monica City Council adopted the Zero Carbon 2030 Fleet Plan and
directed Big Blue Bus (BBB) to undertake a landmark process to convert its fleet to zero
emission propulsion systems, ahead of the 2040 mandate. This plan directs the Big Blue
Bus to buy 100% zero emission vehicles for its transit fleet allowing for a full transition to
zero emissions without early retirement of vehicles. This plan is intended to be a living
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# OF BUSES
IN REVENUE
SERVICE
MODEL
YEAR
MAKE MODEL FUEL TYPE BUS TYPE Length
9 2004 NEW FLYER L40LF LNG STANDARD 40'
9 2006 NEW FLYER L40LF LNG STANDARD 40'
document which is subject to change as zero emission bus technology and
infrastructure mature.
The rollout plan was adopted by City Council on June 23, 2020. A copy of the
resolution is included in appendix A.
For additional information on the rollout plan, please contact the following:
Modica, Getty
Transit Maintenance Manager
(310) 458
-1975 x5009
Nanjo, David
Administrative Analyst
(310) 458-1975 x2387
Section C: Technology Portfolio
Big Blue Bus (BBB) is currently developing a Master Plan for zero-emission infrastructure.
For the first phase, BBB is building electrical infrastructure to charge up to 25 battery
electric buses. At a minimum, BBB will procure 19 battery
electric transit vehicles. Future purchases will consider
BBB’s operational needs and may include hydrogen-
electric, and or battery electric buses.
Section D: Current Bus Fleet
Composition and Future Bus Purchases
Big Blue Bus (BBB) currently has a fleet of 195 fixed route revenue vehicles consisting of
30-, 40-, and 60-foot articulated buses. The table 1 represent BBB’s current fleet.
Table1: Individual Bus Information
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5 2010 EL DORADO EZR II- BRT 32' CNG STANDARD 30'
10 2011 EL DORADO EZR II- BRT 32' CNG STANDARD 30'
21 2011 NABI 60BRT-14.02 CNG ARTICULATED 60'
9 2011 NABI 40LFW-14.01 CNG STANDARD 40'
1 2012 GILLIG G27D102N4 CNG STANDARD 40'
44 2013 GILLIG G27D102N4 CNG STANDARD 40'
13 2014 GILLIG G27D102N4 CNG STANDARD 40'
4 2015 GILLIG G27E102N2 CNG STANDARD 40'
11 2015 GILLIG G27D102N4 CNG STANDARD 40'
7 2015 NEW FLYER XN60 CNG ARTICULATED 60'
5 2016 GILLIG G27D102N4 CNG STANDARD 40'
19 2017 GILLIG G31D102N4 CNG STANDARD 40'
1 2017 GILLIG G27D102N4 CNG STANDARD 40'
19 2018 GILLIG G31D CNG STANDARD 40'
7 2018 GILLIG G31E CNG STANDARD 30'
1 2019 GILLIG G28D ELECTRIC-
DEPOT
STANDARD 40'
Timeline
(Year)
Total # of
Buses to
Purchase
# of ZEB
Purchase
% of Annual
ZEB
Purchase
ZEB Bus Type ZEB Fuel Type
2021 18 18 100% Standard Battery Electric – Depot
2022 5 5 100% Standard Zero Emission Bus
2023 10 10 100% Standard Zero Emission Bus
2023 21 21 100% Articulated Zero Emission Bus
2023 9 9 100% Standard Zero Emission Bus
2025 45 45 100% Standard Zero Emission Bus
2026 13 13 100% Standard Zero Emission Bus
2027 15 15 100% Standard Zero Emission Bus
2027 7 7 100% Articulated Zero Emission Bus
2028 5 5 100% Standard Zero Emission Bus
2029 20 20 100% Standard Zero Emission Bus
Per City Council direction, Big Blue Bus will only purchase zero-emission transit vehi cles
for replacement moving forward. No conventional buses (i.e. CNG, LNG, gasoline
hybrid fueled vehicles) will be purchased. Table 2 represents the anticipated buses that
will be purchased in the future.
Table2: Future Bus Purchases
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2030 19 19 100% Standard Zero Emission Bus
2030 7 7 100% Standard Battery Electric – Depot
Timeline
(Year)
Total # of
Buses to
Purchase
ZEB Bus Type Required BEB Range
Estimated Cost of Each
Bus
2021 18 Standard 140 $890,000
2022 5 Standard 200 $890,000
2023 10 Standard 200 $890,000
2023 21 Articulated* 200
2023 9 Standard 200 $890,000
2025 45 Standard 200 $890,000
2026 13 Standard 200 $890,000
2027 15 Standard 200 $890,000
2027 7 Articulated* 200
2028 5 Standard 200 $890,000
2029 20 Standard 200 $890,000
2030 19 Standard 200 $890,000
2030 7 Standard 200 $890,000
Big Blue Bus will replace its fleet of transit buses with zero em
ission vehicles on a one-for-
one basis as they reach the end of their useful life
. This replacement schedule is subject
to change as BBB periodically adjusts its service levels in response to rider demand. BBB
is technology agnostic and is considering battery electric buses and hydrogen fuel cell
buses to meet its zero emission goals.
Table 3 represents
the required operational range for future zero-emission buses to serve
BBB’s fleet and its estimated cost.
Table 3: Range and Estimated Costs of Future ZEB Purchases
*the estimated cost of an articulated bus is unknown at this time.
While our conventional buses are equipped with near zero engines, these buses will not
be converted to zero-emission. Big Blue Bus will purchase zero-emission vehicles for
replacement of buses per the timeline above.
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Project
Phase
Phase
Timeline
Type(s) of Infrastructure
Facility
Service
Capacity
Needs
Upgrade
Phase 1 Present - 2021
Long-term analysi s ZEB options,
Install ation of SCE vault containing
transformers and panels, and
conduit and wiring for charging
capacity up to 25 buses
19 buses Yes
Phase 2 2021 - 2023
Upgrade electrical vault to add
additional transformers, and
i
nstallation of electric bus
chargers. SCE to evaluate BBB’s
energy supply needs based on
latest availab le charg
i
ng
technology.
64 buses Yes
Phase 3 2023 - 2026
Additional vault or substation, or
hydrogen fueling system, as
required by long-term plan,
additional electric bus chargers
122
buses
Yes
Phase 4 2026 - 2029
Upgrade of infrastructure per long-
term plan
169
buses
Yes
Phase 5 2029 - 2030
Upgrade of infrastructure per long-
term plan
195
buses
Yes
Section E: Facilities and Infrastructure
Modifications
Big Blue Bus will modify its yard and maintenance facility to accommodate the
transition to zero-emission. BBB operates one facility located at 1620 6
th
Street in Santa
Monica and as such all facility upgrades or modifications will take place at that facility.
Below is a table of the infrastructure modifications, Big Blue Bus would undergo, per the
Master Plan.
Table 4:
Facilities Information and Construction Timeline
BBB’s electrical service is provided by Southern California Edison (SCE). BBB successfully
pursued SCE’s Charge Ready Transportation grant program. The grant will be for
Battery Electric Bus (BEB) charging of up to 25 buses and consists of installation of an
electrical vault containing a transformer that can power up to 25 battery chargers,
electrical panel and cable wiring stubbed to the charger end locations. Construction
and commissioning of the SCE infrastructure should be completed by March 2021.
BBB will utilize smart charging infrastructure to balance charging loads over time
reducing the peak energy demand for electric bus charging. Staff is also exploring all
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zero emission vehicle options to determine how to best utilize emerging technologies to
meet BBB’s operational needs. Future infrastructure may include hydrogen fueling
capacity or in-route charging infrastructure based on the results of the zero-emission
vehicle master plan.
Section F: Providing Service in Disadvantaged
Communities
The City of Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus (BBB) provides service to approximately 13
million passengers annually in an urban service area of 58 square miles, located on the
Westside of Los Angeles. In addition to the City of Santa Monica, BBB serves the
Westside communities of Pacific Palisades, West Los Angeles, Brentwood, Westwood,
University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Cheviot Hills, South Robertson, Mid-City
Wilshire, Westchester, Marina del Rey, Koreatown, Downtown LA, Venice and Playa
Vista.
BBB routes provide regional connections to the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX),
Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Metropolitan
Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Rail systems at 13 stations, as well as Metrolink and
Amtrak inter-city rail services.
The figure below demonstrates Route 7 and Rapid 7 that primarily serve the
disadvantaged communities, but also allows for first-last mile connectivity to Metro rail.
Source: SB 535 Disadvantaged Communities CalEnviroScreen 3.0
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All buses in the fleet are rotated throughout the system on a daily basis to meet FTA’s
Title VI requirements. As replacements buses or zero-emission buses are introduced into
the fleet, the buses would be rotated throughout the system.
Section G: Workforce Training.
The Big Blue Bus Safety and Training Division
dynamically delivers training to ensure Motor
Coach Operators, Transit Mechanics, Motor
Coach Cleaners, and Facility Maintenance
staff are at the top of innovative bus
technology.
Motor Coach Operators receive four (4) hours
of Battery Electric Bus familiarization, behind
the wheel, and High Voltage system safety
training.
Motor Coach Cleaners receive Battery Electric Bus familiarization, High Voltage system
Safety, behind the wheel, and Personal Protective equipment training. Including first
responders and charging infrastructure training.
Transit Mechanics attend and complete two phases of comprehensive training prior to
engaging in servicing or repairing of Zero-Emission buses;
Phase one - Transit Mechanics must complete 8 hours of Digital Volt Ohm Meter,
Electrical I, and Electrical II administered by Big Blue Bus Certified Instructors and
Southern California Regional Transit Training Consortium (SCRTTC).
Phase two - Transit Mechanics must complete 24 hours of Zero-Emission Bus Technical
Training, charging infrastructure, and 24 hours of Arc Flash Electrical Safety National
Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E with Skills certification as listed in the Big Blue
Bus Electrical Safety
Work plan.
Concurrently, Facility Maintenance Staff must complete Zero-Emission bus familiarization,
High Voltage system safety, charging infrastructure training, and must attend and complete
24 hours of Arc Flash Electrical Safety NFPA 70E with skills certification. Training to include
electrical vault training, panels, and transformers as listed in the Big Blue Bus Electrical Safety
Work Plan.
In addition, the Big Blue Bus Safety and Training division works with local governing agencies
and deliver train the trainer sessions for First Responders including fire department and
police department staff. First responders training comprise familiarization, energy storage
systems, and emergency shutdown procedures.
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Table 5: Training Schedule
Timeline
(Year)
# of ZEB
purchase
# of
Mechanics
Trained
# of bus
Operators
Trained
# Motor
Coach
Cleaners
Trained
# of
Facilities
Technicians
trained
2021 18 18 316 19 5
2022 5 46 316 19 5
2023
10
46
316 19
5
2023
21
46
316 19
5
2023 9 46 316 19 5
2025
45
46
316 19
5
2026
13
46
316 19
5
2027
15
46
316 19
5
2027
7 46
316 19
5
2028
5 46
316 19
5
2029
20
46
316 19
5
2030
7 46
316 19
5
Section H: Potential Funding Sources
Big Blue Bus (BBB) has actively been seeking State and Federal funds to procure
replacement buses with zero-emission technologies. Currently,
BBB receives a formula
allocated Urbanized Area Formula Funds from Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
Section 5307.
This covers at a minimum 80% of the zero-emission transit v
ehicle. Local
funds are a combination of the State’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP)
and SB1 State of Good Repair funds.
BBB successfully
pursued Southern California Edison’s (SCE) Charge Ready
Transportation grant program. The grant will be for Battery Electric Bus (BEB) charging of
up to 25 buses and consists of installation of an electrical vault containing a transformer
that can power up to 25 battery chargers, electrical panel and cable wiring stubbed to
the charger end locations. Construction and commissioning of the SCE infrastructure
should be completed by March 2021.
BBB will continue to pursue additional funding sources, such as Carl Moyer, VW
Settlement, HVIP, etc.
Additional funding may be available.
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Section I: Start-up and Scale-up Challenges
1) Big Blue Bus has experienced some startup challenges i ncluding funding and the
developing nature of zero emission bus technology. We have found the price of
zero emission buses to be about $200 ,000 more than our previous purchases of
CNG buses not accounting for the added cost of purchasing and installing
charging infrastructure. Another challenge was the nature of the technology.
Because this industry is relatively new, companies have created buses with
unique or proprietary operation and charging methods. This often means that
agencies are limited by the manufacturer in what charging systems they can
procure. There is also a limited pool of equipment manufactures for charging
systems. The industry is not yet mature leading to a small pool of systems that
support fast charging for heavy-duty applications. Several promising systems are
awaiting certification.
a. Additional funding or tax exemptions for zero emission bus and charging
system purchases could help close the funding gap in
the transition to
zero emissions. CARB could help push the industry to adopt standardized
chargi
ng
interfaces to provide more flexibility to transit agencies.
2) There are signifi
cant unknowns related to the cost of energy going forward that
represent a financi
al risk to BBB as it looks to
transition its fleet to 100% zero
emissi
ons technology. Current funding opportunities focus on prov
iding funding
for the purchase and installation of equipment, but no funding exists to offset any
increase i
n
the operating energy
costs that would result from an electri
c bus
fleet. BBB has also found that current electric bus ranges are insufficient to
replace CNG buses one-for-one. Using current t
echnology, wide scale
deployment of zero em
ission vehicles would require an increase in fleet s
ize,
changes to bus scheduling, on-route charging, and/or moving toward hydrogen
fuel cell technology.
Each of these options carry their own risks and challenges
that will likely requi
re additional funding to resolve.
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Appendix A
Resolution/Council Approval
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