BurbankBus
Electrification
Transition Policy
COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
March 15, 2022
Agenda
COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
• Background
• CALSTART Recommendations
• Funding
• Policy Alternatives and
Recommendations
Background
• CARB Innovative Clean Transit Regulation
• 25% new buses zero emission in 2026
• 100% new buses zero emission in 2029
• All buses zero emission by 2040
• Council approved MOU with Glendale and
Pasadena to conduct grant funded feasibility
in 2020
• CALSTART conducted feasibility study for
BurbankBus transition
ICT Regulation Rationale
• Reduce toxic air emissions and greenhouse gases
• Supports state climate goals
0 100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
CNG BEB
kg per year
Smog Emissions
Upstream Tailpipe
*
0 100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
CNG BEB
Metric Tones per Year
GHG Emissions (CO2 equivalent)
*† †
† Compressed Natural Gas * Battery Electric Bus
CALSTART Recommendation
• Battery electric buses (BEBs) over
hydrogen fuel cells (FCEBs)
• BEB tech more mature
• BEB less expensive to implement
• Both technologies require significant
infrastructure investments
• City had poor experience with FCEB bus
10 years ago
BEB Transition Cost
• Issue – City does not have its own
bus facility needed for necessary
infrastructure (extra ~$30 million)
Fleet Scenario Cost through 2040 Incremental
Cost
CNG Fleet $17 million --
Battery Electric Fleet $30 million + $13 million
Fuel Cell Electric
Fleet
$32 million + $15 million
Policy Options
• Option 1: Convert current BurbankBus
service model to electric buses
• Option 2: Procure all transit services
from a third-party public or private
transit operator that complies with ICT
regulation. Third party operator would
provide electric buses, charging
infrastructure, and operations
Policy Options
• Option 3: Cooperate with Glendale to
electrify Glendale Transit facility.
Transition to co-location with Glendale
by 2026. Begin procurement of BEB in
2026
• Option 4: Discontinue all BurbankBus
services by 2026
Policy Options Estimated Costs
Policy Option Incremental Cost
1. Convert BurbankBus service model to BEBs $43 million
2. Procure services from 3rd party transit operator $12 million
3. Cooperate and Co-locate with Glendale $12 million
4. Discontinue all BurbankBus services $17 million savings Impacts to Senior & Disabled Service
• Policy Options 2 and 3 require
contracting out Senior & Disabled
Transit
Staff Recommendation
• Begin discussions with Glendale to co-
locate and collaborate on electric
infrastructure grants
• Implement phased transition to BEBs
• Purchase six grant funded CNG buses
in 2022
• Purchase five electric buses between
2026 and 2029
• Purchase six electric buses between
2029 and 2040
Transportation Commission Input
• Staff presented the four policy options to
the Transportation Commission for their
input
• Hydrogen could provide co-benefits
beyond transit use
• Supportive of coordination with
Glendale
• Worried about high costs, but noted that
BEBs may get cheaper over time
• Changes in ridership may affect service
models
Next Steps
• City to begin procurement of six CNG
buses in summer 2022
• Staff begin discussions with Glendale
• Staff to develop plan for Senior &
Disabled contracted service