Pasadena Accelerates Electric Bus Transition With $100 Million In Secured Funding

Pasadena is fast-tracking its transition to an all-electric public transit fleet, with city officials set to update the Municipal Services Committee Tuesday on a comprehensive plan that has already secured over $100 million in grant funding.

The ambitious zero-emission rollout aims to convert the city’s entire 55-vehicle public transit fleet by 2037 — three years ahead of California’s 2040 mandate. The transition will replace all 39 Pasadena Transit fixed-route buses with hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles, while the 16-vehicle Dial-A-Ride paratransit fleet will switch to battery-powered buses.

Transportation Director Joaquin Siques will present the update at the committee’s 4:00 p.m. meeting, highlighting significant progress on infrastructure projects. A new $100 million Transit Operations Maintenance Facility is in the 50% design phase at 2180 E. Foothill Boulevard, with completion expected in 2028. The city is also designing a $16 million hydrogen fueling station at 159 South Kinneloa Avenue, currently at 30% design and anticipated to be operational by 2027.

Both facilities will have contracts advertised in Summer 2025. The hydrogen station was environmentally cleared in April 2025 following three community outreach meetings.

The city has already received its first electric bus in January 2025, with the first Dial-A-Ride electric bus expected in Summer 2025. By 2028, approximately 47% of the current fleet will be converted to zero-emission vehicles.

The choice of hydrogen fuel cell technology for fixed-route buses reflects careful operational analysis. Unlike battery-electric buses that would have required 20 additional vehicles due to range limitations, hydrogen buses allow for direct one-to-one replacement without requiring additional parking or maintenance capacity.

The planned hydrogen station will feature 18,000-gallon liquid storage capacity, initially serving 17 vehicles in 2027 and expanding to accommodate the full 45-vehicle fleet by 2037.

The $150.7 million total project cost includes substantial secured funding: $3.6 million federal, $25.2 million state, $75.3 million Metro, and $15.2 million local sources, totaling $119.2 million. An additional $31.5 million may still be needed for the maintenance facility.

The transition stems from California’s Innovative Clean Transit Rule, adopted by the California Air Resources Board in December 2018, requiring all public transit agencies statewide to operate 100% zero-emission fleets by 2040.

The Municipal Services Committee meeting will take place Tuesday, June 10, at 4:00 p.m. in the Pasadena City Hall Council Chamber, Room S249, located at 100 North Garfield Avenue. The public can attend in person or watch the live stream at pasadena.granicus.com or PasadenaMedia.org.