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CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA
REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM
Report: Purchase 20 Electric Buses Using the California Association for Coordinated Transportation (CALACT)/Basin Transit Purchasing Cooperative 1) Motion authorizing the Deputy Director of Finance/Purchasing, or his designee, to issue a Purchase Order for 20 electric buses from GILLIG, LLC (GILLIG), for $29,331,060, using the federalized CALACT/Basin Transit Purchasing Cooperative.
2) Motion authorizing the City Manager, or his designee, to execute Project Grant Agreements and Project Readiness Certification with Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) to receive federal Congestion Management Air Quality (CMAQ) Program funding, Measure M Subregional funds, and Metro Local Transit Systems Subcommittee ZEV funds. 3) Resolution of Appropriation for grant funds and City Measure R and Proposition Local Return transit grant matching funds to purchase electric buses.
COUNCIL ACTION
Item Type: Action Item
Approved for May 12, 2026 calendar
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The California Air Resources Board requires public transit agencies to transition to a zero- emission fleet by 2040. For Glendale Beeline, the transition began with the previous purchase of five electric buses and continues with the recommended acquisition of 20 additional electric buses. Funding for this purchase is provided by a combination of state, federal, and regional grants, as well as a Measure R Local Return match. These funding sources enable the City to procure 20 GILLIG 35-foot battery electric buses as part of its commitment to sustainable public transportation in the total amount of $29,331,060.
RECOMMENDATION
Pass motions (1) authorizing the Deputy Director of Finance/Purchasing to issue a purchase order for 20 GILLIG electric buses in an amount not to exceed $29,331,060, inclusive of sales tax and tariff contingencies, and (2) authorizing the City Manager to execute Project Grant Agreements and Project Readiness Certification with Metro to receive federal CMAQ Program funding, Measure M Subregional funds, and Metro 10b2
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Local Transit Systems Subcommittee ZEV funds. Additionally, adopt a resolution appropriating grant funds from the following programs: TIRCP, FTA, Measure M Subregional, Metro LTSS ZEV, Proposition A Local Return for Hybrid and Zero- Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP) grant, and Measure R and Proposition A Local Return funds for the local match.
ANALYSIS
The City of Glendale has provided Beeline, a fixed-route bus service, throughout the City since 1984. Beeline services are operated with City-owned vehicles that must be replaced at the end of their useful life. Under the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Innovative Clean Transit regulation, all transit agencies must transition to a zero-emission fleet by 2040. Currently, Beeline operates five electric buses, and 20 CNG buses have reached the end of their useful life and require replacement.
Procurement
Procuring transit buses requires specialized knowledge of bus specifications and federal requirements, including Buy America, which mandates that at least 70% of bus components and subcomponents be manufactured in the United States. To address these complexities and maximize efficiency, transit agencies commonly participate in joint procurements and state cooperative agreements. These approaches save time and reduce costs, helping agencies overcome limited staff expertise. Historically, the City of Glendale has relied on Federal Transit Administration (FTA)-compliant joint procurements and cooperative agreements, rather than releasing independent solicitations for transit buses or paratransit vans. Moreover, independent solicitations would likely prevent the City from obtaining the volume discounts available through cooperative purchasing.
To replace its 20 buses, the City will use the CALACT/Basin Transit Cooperative Agreement, which meets FTA and California state requirements, enabling transit agencies to benefit from a competitively bid, cost-effective, and efficient procurement process. Through this agreement, the City will purchase 20 replacement electric buses from GILLIG, LLC, located in Livermore, California.
Funding
On September 20, 2022, the City Council accepted a California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) grant to electrify the Beeline transit fleet. The grant funds the purchase of battery-electric buses and chargers, installation of electrification infrastructure, improvements to the rider experience, and initiatives to encourage increased ridership. A key component of the project is the purchase of 20 replacement GILLIG 35-foot electric buses. Since 2022, the cost of electric buses has increased, necessitating the pursuit of additional grant funding. In addition to the TIRCP grant, the City has secured further grants and Measure R Local Return funds to fully finance the purchase, as shown in the table below. The resolution president appropriates federal, state, and local grant funds for this purpose. Notably, the state HVIP grant funds are unique in that the program provides 10b3
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the grant funds directly to the bus manufacturer, GILLIG, and GILLIG will reduce the purchase order by $3,120,000 accordingly.
20 Electric Bus Grant Funding for Purchase Order
TIRCP State $17,281,553
SCAG CMAQ/FTA Federal $400,000
Measure M Subregional Metro/Regional $2,316,963
LTSS ZEV Metro/Regional $1,995,000
HVIP (Paid directly to GILLIG) State $3,120,000
Grant Funding Subtotal $25,113,516
Measure R Local Return Glendale/Metro $4,217,544
Prop A Local Return Glendale/Metro $3,120,000
HVIP (Paid directly to GILLIG) State ($3,120,000)
Local Match Subtotal $4,217,544
Total Funding/Cost $29,331,060
HVIP grant funds are provided directly to GILLIG and will reduce the Purchase Order by $3,120,000, requiring a Purchase Order revision. If HVIP funding is unavailable, the Purchase Order will be revised to reduce the number of buses from 20 to 18 to match the remaining grant funds.
STAKEHOLDERS/OUTREACH
The purchase of electric buses is mandated by CARB’s Innovative Clean Transit regulation, which requires all transit fleets to be zero-emission by 2040. These electric buses are being acquired as replacements and are essential to ensure uninterrupted Beeline service.
FISCAL IMPACT
The purchase of 20 GILLIG electric buses will cost $29,331,060, which was not included as a part of the FY 2025-26 budget. Therefore, staff is requesting for an appropriation of $29,331,060 from multiple grant and special revenue funding sources.
The appropriation request is outlined below:
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Requesting Appropriation
Amount From (Account String) To (Account String) Funding Source $4,217,544 GL: 24212-2540-PWD-
0000
GL: 51000-2540-PWD-
0020-P0000-
PL: PWD01596AN
Measure R Local
Return
$17,281,553 GL: 32610-2160-PWD-
0020
PL: PWD01596BG
GL: 51000-2160-
PWD-0020-P0000-
PL: PWD01596BG
Grant Fund -
State Grant
Funds (TIRCP)
$400,000 GL: 31240-2160-PWD-
0020
PL: PWD01596CG
GL: 51000-2160-PWD-
0020-P0000-
PL: PWD01596CG
Grant Fund -
Federal Grant
Funds (FTA)
$2,316,963 GL: 34301-2230-PWD-
0020
PL: PWD01596DG
GL: 51000-2230-PWD-
0020-P0000-
PL: PWD01596DG
Measure M
Subregional
Grant Funds
$1,995,000 GL: 34301-2160-PWD-
0020
PL: PWD01596EG
GL: 51000-2160-PWD-
0020-P0000-
PL: PWD01596EG
Grant Fund -
(LTSS – ZEV)
$3,120,000 GL: 24212-2560-PWD-
0000
GL: 51000-2560-PWD-
0020-P0000-
PL: PWD01596FN
Prop A Local
Return Funds
Department Cost Center
Public
Works
Projects
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (CEQA/NEPA)
The activity under consideration is not subject to CEQA because it is not a “project” within the meaning of CEQA Guidelines section 15378. Even if it is a project, the activity is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080.25(b)(5)(A), which consists, among other things, of the protection, improvement, institution, or increase of bus service. Additionally, the activity is categorically exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15308, which consists of actions taken to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment where the regulatory process involves procedures for the protection of the environment. In any event, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment; thus, it is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3).
The project is also categorically excluded under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) per 23 CFR 771.118(c), as it does not involve significant land acquisition or environmental disruption.
CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE
The names and business addresses of the members of the GILLIG board of directors, the chairperson, CEO, COO, CFO, subcontractors and any person or entity with more than 10b5
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10% interest in the company are attached Exhibit 1, in accordance with the City Campaign Finance Ordinance No. 5744.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Do not pass the motions or adopt the resolution of appropriation. This would result in not replacing the 20 Beeline buses that have reached the end of their useful life with electric buses. Consequently, the City would incur additional maintenance expenses for the service contractor to keep aging buses operational, and the opportunity to improve air quality through the deployment of zero-emission vehicles would be lost.
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION
Submitted by:
Daniel Hernandez, Director of Public Works
Prepared by:
Martha D’Andrea, Transit Manager
Approved by:
Roubik R. Golanian, P.E., City Manager
EXHIBITS/ATTACHMENTS
Exhibit 1: Campaign Finance Disclosure