Administrative
Report
H.11., File # 23-5977 Meeting Date: 5/16/2023
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: CAMERON HARDING, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
TITLE
ADOPT BY TITLE ONLY, RESOLUTION NO. CC-2305-045, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE REDONDO
BEACH - BEACH CITIES TRANSIT ZERO EMISSION ROLLOUT PLAN
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In December 2018, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) adopted the Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) rule that requires all public transit operators in California to transition to 100 percent Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) fleets by 2040. CARB guidelines require all small transit agencies to develop and approve a Zero Emission Roll Out Plan and Resolution, and submit it to CARB by June 30, 2023.
BACKGROUND
In December 2018, the CARB adopted the ICT rule that requires all public transit operators in California to transition to 100 percent ZEB fleets by 2040. The CARB Rollout Plan Guidance (attachment) defines the required transition milestones that include the following:
· July 1, 2023: Deadline to provide a "ZEB Rollout Plan" · 2026: 25% of new bus purchases must be ZEB
· 2029: All buses purchased must be ZEB
· 2040: All buses must be ZEB
The attached Rollout Plan identifies the proposed roadmap to transition the Beach Cities Transit (BCT) and WAVE Dial-A-Ride transit fleet to a full deployment of a ZEB fleet by 2040 and start the ZEB bus procurements for transition in calendar year 2029. A new Transit Operations and Maintenance Facility will need to begin construction by 2027 to have infrastructure ready for the bus maintenance and charging.
The Rollout Plan has been prepared to meet the ZEB Rollout Plan requirements due to CARB by July 1, 2023. The Rollout Plan identifies the fleet replacement schedule to implement the ZEB transition, the ZEB technology that will be implemented, the infrastructure needed, a training plan for drivers and maintenance staff and potential funding sources. The Roll Out Plan can be amended, as conditions may change in the next few years. The transition to a ZEB fleet is a significant undertaking for a system the size of BCT with 14 fixed route buses and 6 Dial-A-Ride buses. Given this, staff continues to prepare for the ZEB transition. Below is a snapshot describing BCT's approach to preparing for compliance with the ICT rule:
H.11., File # 23-5977 Meeting Date: 5/16/2023
· Participate in the Los Angeles Regional Electric Bus Working Group, a working group primarily made up of transit agencies and public utilities that have been meeting regularly to share information and exchange ZEB experiences
· Joined Zero Emission Bus Resource Alliance (ZEBRA), a professional association for transit agencies in the U.S. and Canada to share lessons learned about zero-emission buses (ZEBs).
ZEBRA holds regular meetings and conferences providing members access to peer information and shared research on clean transit and emerging zero-emission technology for both Battery Electric Bus (BEB) and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Bus (FCEB) · Attend conferences, summits, demonstrations and workshops focused specifically on zero emission technologies in the transit industry to address approaches that have been or will be implemented, lessons learned, best practices, ongoing research and potential funding opportunities
· Tour ZEB manufacturer facilities, and other transit agency operations facilities operating BEB and FCEB buses
· Initiated the BCT Services Study in 2022, that includes the evaluation and analysis of ZEB technology best suited for BCT services (BEB vs FCEB), ZEB facility planning, and the development of a Roll Out Plan
The BCT Roll Out Plan recommends a BEB fleet in order to meet the operating needs of the BCT fixed route and WAVE transportation systems. During the BCT Service Study, Stantec Consulting Services evaluated and compared the ZEB fleet options, BEB and FCEB, including the operations facility site needs and space, and the mileage range of ZEB vehicles.
The typical fully-charged vehicle mileage range of BEB buses is 120 -150 miles and the FCEB buses is over 350 miles. BEB buses are recommended for BCT since most buses travel not more than 170 miles/day on the fixed routes and the dial-a-ride services. Stantec recommends that the BCT fleet convert to BEB based on the following factors:
· Many regional peers are moving forward with BEB fleets · BEBs have a proven track record, as are more commonly deployed than FCEB · More vehicle options available compared to FCEB, especially for WAVE vehicles · Most of BCT’s operations can be converted to BEBs in a 1:1 manner · FCEBs are preferable for longer distance routes - BCT has shorter distance routes · FCEB’s current bus cost is at least 50% higher than BEB buses · FCEBs are fueled via a hydrogen fueling station - BCT would either need to construct one (high upfront capital costs and large footprint) or consider alternative onsite or offsite fueling locations
· BCT’s current facility lacks the space to accommodate a hydrogen fueling station · BCT’s small fleet would translate to low hydrogen fuel demand resulting in a more expensive per-bus cost compared to BEBs, particularly if onsite hydrogen fueling station is constructed · FCEB fueling onsite presents higher up-front capital costs than BEB (buses and charging/fuel station)
In order to operate, charge and maintain ZEB buses, a new Transit Operations and Maintenance Facility will need to be constructed. Construction of the new facility will need to begin by 2027 and is expected to be constructed at the current operations facility site located at 1519 Kingsdale Avenue, adjacent to the Transit Center. The operations facility construction project is included in the Roll Out
H.11., File # 23-5977 Meeting Date: 5/16/2023
adjacent to the Transit Center. The operations facility construction project is included in the Roll Out Plan.
It is anticipated that the BCT fleet would maintain the same number of BEB buses (20) as the current fleet. However, the Roll Out Plan incorporates additional vehicles that may be needed for future fixed route service changes to improve frequency.
The cost to transition to the ZEB fleet will be estimated in the future nearest to the bus procurement phase. Currently 30-foot BEB buses cost over $1.1 million per bus, more than $500,000 higher than the cost of a CNG bus, so the City will need to apply for State and Federal grants to supplement existing Federal capital funding, as well as increase Local Return allocations for the Local Match requirements. To support the cost to construct the new transit operations and maintenance facility, the City has been selected to receive approximately $34.4 million in Subregional Measure R Funding from the South Bay Cities Council of Governments. The City may require additional capital funding after the construction design and Bid processes are completed.
When the BCT Services Study is completed, more information will be presented to City Council regarding the ZEB transition plan and cost estimates.
COORDINATION
The ZEB operations and maintenance facility concepts have been reviewed by the Public Works Department as part of the BCT Services Study. The City Attorney’s Office has approved the Resolution as to form.
FISCAL IMPACT
There are no costs associated with this action. Staff will return to City Council for procurement of vehicles and infrastructure plans for consideration when appropriate.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
· Reso - Approval of Rollout Plan
· Beach Cities Transit Zero Emission Bus Rollout Plan
· Presentation - Beach Cities Transit Zero Emission Bus Rollout Plan Powerpoint · California Air Resources Board Rollout Plan Guidance, January 9, 2020