activeSGV.org #ActiveSGV August 22, 2025
Pasadena Finance Committee and City Council 100 N. Garfield Ave. Pasadena, CA 91101
RE: Support the procurement of 17 Pasadena Transit Buses per the City's Zero Emission
Rollout
Plan
Dear City of Pasadena Finance Committee and City Councilmembers: As a place-based community organization dedicated to realizing a more sustainable, equitable,
and
livable
San
Gabriel
Valley,
ActiveSGV
is
pleased
to
support
the
purchase
of
zero-emission
Pasadena
Transit
buses.
Over the past few years Pasadena, like so many communities around the world, has endured
devastating
wildfires
and
extreme
heat
events,
disasters
that
the
best
available
science
tells
us
are
tied
to
GHG
emissions.
While
Pasadena
only
has
so
much
power
over
this
very
global
problem,
the
City
does
have
the
ability
to
help
lead
the
transition
to
non-polluting
modes
of
transportation.
The
proposed
investment
in
zero-emission
buses
would
be
another
step
in
this
direction.
The procurement of non-polluting buses would also serve as a critical step towards realizing
the
long-awaited
“Mt.
Wilson
Express”,
with
city
buses
slated
to
launch
this
innovative
pilot
weekend
service
in
2027.
Over
the
past
four
years
the
Pasadena
Department
of
Transportation,
Nature
for
All,
U.S.
Forest
Service,
LA
County,
Caltrans,
and
numerous
community
partners
have
been
planning
the
new
route.
In
2023
Metro’s
Recreation
Access
(Transit-to-Parks)
program
awarded
the
City
of
Pasadena
funding
to
launch
this
exciting
new
service.
Pasadena’s new buses will help the City transition to a zero emission fleet as required by state
law,
as
well
as
implement
the
Mt.
Wilson
Express
service
before
the
grant
deadline.
The
transit-to-trails
route
is
planned
to
start
from
Old
Pasadena’s
Memorial
Park,
then
head
north
to
serve
local
Northwest
Pasadena
stops,
Hahamongna
Watershed
Park,
and
into
the
Angeles
National
Forest,
where
it
will
serve
several
popular
trailheads
before
reaching
the
final
station,
the
Mt.
Wilson
Observatory.
In
addition
to
getting
traffic
off
the
road,
this
exciting
new
transit
service
will
draw
more
foot
traffic
to
Old
Pasadena,
with
visitors
likely
to
dine
and
shop
in
the
City
before
or
after
their
outings.
If you have any questions regarding our support for these innovative projects, please contact me at [email protected]. Thank you for your consideration, David Diaz, MPH Executive Director
ActiveSGV’s mission is to support a more sustainable, equitable, and livable San Gabriel Valley. Jeff Seymour Center • 10900 Mulhall Street El Monte, CA 91731
August 22, 2025 City of Pasadena Finance Committee and City Council 100 N. Garfield Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101 RE: Support the purchase of 17 Pasadena Transit Fuel Cell Electric Buses per the City's Zero
Emission
Rollout
Plan
Dear City of Pasadena Finance Committee and City Councilmembers: Outward Bound Adventures (OBA) is in full support of the purchase of 17 Pasadena Transit, Fuel
Cell
Electric
Buses
per
the
City's
Zero
Emission
Rollout
Plan.
Our recent wildfires and extreme heat waves remind us that implementation of the City’s Zero Emission
Rollout
Plan
is
imperative
to
limit
the
local
impacts
of
climate
change.
In addition, the Fuel Cell Electric Buses (FCEB) are a critical piece of the City’s planned “Mt.
Wilson
Express”
transit
route.
The
buses
are
needed
to
launch
the
innovative
pilot
weekend
service
to
the
San
Gabriel
Mountains.
The
community
is
eagerly
awaiting
this
route,
and
any
delay
could
impact
grant
implementation.
As you may know, the City of Pasadena was awarded funding in 2023 from Metro’s Recreation Access
(Transit
to
Parks)
grant
to
launch
this
service.
This
route
has
been
in
planning
for
over
four
years
with
Pasadena
Department
of
Transportation,
Nature
for
All,
U.S.
Forest
Service,
consultants,
LA
County
Supervisors,
road
agencies
and
numerous
community
partners.
These FCEB are needed to quickly transition Pasadena’s vehicles to a zero emission fleet as required
by
state
law,
and
to
implement
the
Mt.
Wilson
Express
service
before
the
grant
deadline.
Further,
FCEBs
provide
reliable
service
and
extended
range,
which
are
important
for
meeting
the
mountain
conditions
of
the
route.
The Mt. Wilson Express bus route is planned to start from Old Pasadena’s Memorial Park, head north
to
serve
local
Northwest
Pasadena
stops,
then
Hahamongna
Watershed
Park,
then
head
up
into
the
Angeles
National
Forest,
serving
popular
trailheads
and
ending
at
Mt.
Wilson
Observatory,
then
looping
back.
Boosts
to
the
local
economy
are
also
anticipated
for
the
Old
Pasadena
business
district,
with
increased
foot
traffic
and
tourism
from
visitors
dining
and
shopping
before
and
after
their
trip.
Outward Bound Adventures (OBA) is the oldest nonprofit in the nation dedicated to connecting urban
youth
of
color
to
the
outdoors.
For
over
60 years,
OBA
has
ensured
that
youth
from
low
income,
diverse
and
underserved
communities
have
access
to
nature,
environmental
education
and
pathways
to
successful
careers
in
the
outdoors,
conservation.
restoration
and
education.
Since
1962,
OBA
has
served
over
90,000
participants
from
throughout
Los
Angeles
County
and
beyond,
and
works
in
over
25 cities
and
unincorporated
communities,
and
with
Native
American
tribes.
At the core of our mission is the belief that access to natural spaces is a right for all, particularly for
youth
who
have
traditionally
been
excluded
from
these
opportunities.
Reliable,
environmentally
sustainable
transportation
would
be
transformational
in
helping
OBA
fulfill
this
mission.
It
would
allow
the
youth
we
serve
to
more
easily
and
frequently
reach
local
parks,
trails,
and
wildlands,
reinforcing
the
critical
connections
between
outdoor
access,
health,
stewardship,
and
a
sense
of
responsibility
for
the
environment.
This
investment
would
not
only
expand
opportunities
for
our
youth
but
also
highlight
the
power
of
transit-to-trails
in
creating
equitable
access
to
the
outdoors.
We strongly urge this purchase to follow through with the City’s much-anticipated plans. Please feel free to contact us at (626) 564-0844 for any questions regarding our support. Sincerely, Charles Thomas Executive Director Outward Bound Adventures
August 22, 2025 City of Pasadena Finance Committee and City Council 100 N. Garfield Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101 RE: Support the purchase of 17 Pasadena Transit Fuel Cell Electric Buses per the City's Zero
Emission
Rollout
Plan
Dear City of Pasadena Finance Committee and City Councilmembers: Nature for All is in full support of the purchase of 17 Pasadena Transit, Fuel Cell Electric Buses per
the
City's
Zero
Emission
Rollout
Plan.
Our recent wildfires and extreme heat waves remind us that implementation of the City’s Zero Emission
Rollout
Plan
is
imperative
to
limit
the
local
impacts
of
climate
change.
In addition, the Fuel Cell Electric Buses (FCEB) are a critical piece of the City’s planned “Mt.
Wilson
Express”
transit
route.
The
buses
are
needed
to
launch
the
innovative
pilot
weekend
service
to
the
San
Gabriel
Mountains.
The
community
is
eagerly
awaiting
this
route,
and
any
delay
could
impact
grant
implementation
and
two
federal
grants
which
are
connected
to
this
project.
Nature for All is delighted with our ongoing partnership with the City of Pasadena on this groundbreaking
project.
As
an
organization
dedicated
to
connecting
our
local
communities
with
nature,
we
are
depending
on
the
zero
emission
bus
access
to
the
stunning
mountains
and
shaded
Arroyo
Seco
canyons
in
our
backyard
to
provide
families
vital
health,
wellness,
outdoor
recreation
and
transformative
experiences
in
nature.
www.lanatureforall.org
|
@lanatureforall
|
Mailing
Address:
201
W.
Garvey
Avenue,
Suite
102-503,
Monterey
Park,
CA
91754
As you may know, the City of Pasadena was awarded funding in 2023 from Metro’s Recreation Access
(Transit
to
Parks)
grant
to
launch
this
service.
This
route
has
been
in
planning
for
over
four
years
with
Pasadena
Department
of
Transportation,
Nature
for
All,
U.S.
Forest
Service,
consultants,
Congresswoman
Judy
Chu,
LA
County
Supervisors
Barger
and
Solis,
road
agencies
and
numerous
community
partners.
These FCEB are needed to quickly transition Pasadena’s vehicles to a zero emission fleet as required
by
state
law,
and
to
implement
the
Mt.
Wilson
Express
service
before
the
grant
deadline.
Further,
FCEB
provide
reliable
service
and
extended
range,
which
are
important
for
meeting
the
mountain
conditions
of
the
route.
The Mt. Wilson Express bus route is planned to start from Old Pasadena’s Memorial Park, head north
to
serve
local
Northwest
Pasadena
stops,
then
Hahamongna
Watershed
Park,
then
head
up
into
the
Angeles
National
Forest,
serving
popular
trailheads
and
ending
at
Mt.
Wilson
Observatory,
then
looping
back.
Boosts
to
the
local
economy
are
also
anticipated
for
the
Old
Pasadena
business
district,
with
increased
foot
traffic
and
tourism
from
visitors
dining
and
shopping
before
and
after
their
trip.
We strongly urge this purchase, to follow through with the City’s much-anticipated plans. Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] for any questions regarding our support. Sincerely, Belén Bernal Executive Director, Nature for All
www.lanatureforall.org
|
@lanatureforall
|
Mailing
Address:
201
W.
Garvey
Avenue,
Suite
102-503,
Monterey
Park,
CA
91754