City Officials to Present Share Zero-Emission Bus Plan Update with Environmental Commission

Pasadena’s transportation officials will present a progress update on the city’s Zero-Emission Bus (ZEB) Rollout Plan before the Environmental Advisory Commission on Tuesday evening, highlighting milestones, vehicle technology decisions, and infrastructure planning aimed at fully transitioning the city’s public fleet to zero-emission vehicles by 2037.

The plan, required under the California Air Resources Board’s Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) regulation, sets a statewide deadline of 2040 for full ZEB adoption. Pasadena is on track to meet those targets, with officials reporting key benchmarks already completed and further procurement and facility developments underway.

Pasadena Transit intends to convert its entire fleet to fuel cell electric buses (FCEBs) by 2037, while its Dial-A-Ride service is targeting full conversion to battery electric buses (BEBs) by 2030. The update details how the city selected FCEBs over BEBs for fixed-route services, citing faster refueling times and better scalability, despite higher initial costs.

The combination of fuel cell buses for our main routes and battery electrics for Dial-A-Ride strikes a balance between performance, cost, and environmental benefit, transportation officials said in their report.

The ZEB plan includes a comprehensive roadmap encompassing infrastructure investments, such as a hydrogen fueling station and a new operations site, along with training programs for drivers and maintenance staff. Route energy analyses and fleet replacement schedules are also outlined.

So far, Pasadena has secured 69% of the estimated $150.7 million needed to fund ZEB-related projects through 2028, primarily from federal and state grants. Local funds will cover 10%, while 21% remains unfunded. City staff said they are actively pursuing additional grants to close the gap.

Next steps include securing contracts for the fueling station and operations facility, purchasing 17 FCEBs by the end of 2025, and acquiring seven BEBs for Dial-A-Ride by 2028.

The Environmental Advisory Commission meeting on Tuesday begins at 6 p.m. at City Hall.