Introduction
Table of Contents
City of Ripon
Almond Blossom Express
Zero-Emission Bus Rollout Plan
Prepared for:
1 Table of Contents
Table of Contents............................................................................................................................ 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 2 Background ..................................................................................................................................... 2 Scope............................................................................................................................................... 2 Section A: Transit Agency Information .......................................................................................... 3 Section B: Rollout Plan General Information................................................................................. 3 Section C: Technology Portfolio..................................................................................................... 3 Section D: Current Bus Fleet Composition and Future Bus Purchases.......................................... 3 Section E: Facilities and Infrastructure Modifications................................................................... 4 Section F: Providing Service in Disadvantaged Communities........................................................ 5 Section G: Workforce Training....................................................................................................... 6 Section H: Potential Funding Sources............................................................................................ 6 2 Introduction
In accordance with the California Air Resource Board’s Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) regulation, the following plan serves as the City of Ripon’s Zero-Emission Bus (ZEB) Rollout Plan to transition its bus fleet to 100% ZEB by 2040.
Background
The ICT regulation became effective October 1, 2019, and requires all public transit agencies to gradually transition their bus fleets to zero-emission technologies. The ICT regulation applies to all transit agencies that own, operate, or lease buses with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) greater than 14,000 pounds. It covers standard, articulated, over-the-road, double decker, and cutaway buses. The ICT regulation requires a percentage of new bus purchases to be zeroemission buses (ZEBs). The ZEB percentage increases gradually with time. The ZEB purchase requirements begin in 2026 for small transit agencies.
The City of Ripon is considered a small transit agency by the ICT regulation’s definition (13 CCR § 2023(b)(49)). Starting in 2029, 100% of all transit agencies’ new bus purchases must be ZEBs, with a goal of complete transition to ZEBs (all buses in each transit agency’s fleet to be ZEBs) by 2040.
Scope
This Rollout Plan is a living document and a guide to the implementation of the City of Ripon’s zero-emission bus fleet. The plan provides estimated timelines based on the City’s Fleet Replacement Plan that aims to transition its bus fleet to all battery-electric. As outlined in the guidance provided by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the following sections are included as required:
Section A: Transit Agency Information
Section B: Rollout Plan General Information
Section C: Technology Portfolio
Section D: Current Bus Fleet Composition and Future Bus Purchases Section E: Facilities and Infrastructure Modifications
Section F: Providing Service in Disadvantaged Communities Section G: Workforce Training
Section H: Potential Funding Sources
3 Section A: Transit Agency Information
City of Ripon
259 N. Wilma Ave.
Ripon, CA 95366
Air District: San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Air Basin: San Joaquin Valley Air Basin
Total Number of Buses in Annual Maximum Service: 1
Joint Group: The City of Ripon is not part of a Joint Group Section B: Rollout Plan General Information
This plan directs the City of Ripon to purchase 100% zero-emission vehicles for its transit fleet allowing for a full transition to zero emissions by 2040 while avoiding early retirement of conventional transit buses. The City currently has 2 standard CNG buses which will reach the end of their useful life by 2040. After reaching the end of their useful life, they will be replaced with zero-emission vehicles.
This plan was adopted by City Council on ______________________. A copy of the resolution is attached in Appendix A.
Section C: Technology Portfolio
The City of Ripon plans to deploy 2 standard battery-electric buses (BEBs) through 2040 with a similar capacity to its current fleet. BEBs utilize batteries to store electricity and an electrified drivetrain to propel the bus. The bus draws energy from the battery and converts it into torque with the help of a traction motor. During braking, BEBs use regenerative braking to capture the energy that can be used to recharge the battery. Since BEBs do not produce any tailpipe emissions, they are considered environmentally friendly. Additionally, they operate very quietly.
Due to the City’s small fleet size a new bus will not need to be purchased for a number of years.
The exact model of ZEBs is to be determined depending on what is available through grants and funding at the time of purchase.
The City will also install 4 depot chargers at the City Corporation Yard to accommodate future bus purchases. The City does not expect a significant change to the power load due to its small ridership.
Section D: Current Bus Fleet Composition and Future Bus Purchases The City of Ripon provides public bus service within city limits and connecting to Modesto. The Blossom Express fixed-route service operates two days each week (Tuesday and Thursday), 4 providing two morning and two afternoon round trips between Ripon and Modesto. Up to two deviations to locations within three-quarters of a mile of the route may be provided each trip.
Table 1 below contains information on each individual bus in the City of Ripon’s current bus fleet, with fuel type identified as per ICT guidance.
Table 1: Individual Bus Information of Current Bus Fleet Number of Buses Engine Model Year Bus Model Year Fuel Type Bus Type 1 2012 2012 CNG Standard
1 2017 2018 CNG Standard
According to the zero-emission bus purchase requirements, the City of Ripon must purchase or operate a minimum number of zero-emission buses as determined by the below schedule in any given calendar year:
o By January 1, 2026: 25% of the total number of new bus purchases in each calendar year must be ZEB
o By January 1, 2029: All new bus purchases must be ZEB According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration’s “Useful Life of Transit Buses and Vans” Report No. FTA VA-26-7229-07.1 Table ES-3, the minimum life cycle of a heavy-duty large bus with an annual vehicle mileage of 25,000 is 17 years. The current average mileage of each of the buses in our fleet is under 6,000 miles per year, and therefore the City of Ripon expects a useful lifespan of 20-25 years for its current CNG buses. Table 2 below represents the anticipated buses that will be purchased in the future.
Table 2: Future Bus Purchases
Timeline
(Year)
Total
Number
of Buses
to
Purchase
Number
of ZEB
Purchases
Percentage
of Annual
ZEB
Purchases
ZEB Bus
Type
ZEB
Fuel
Type
Number
of Conv.
Bus
Purchases
Percentage
of Annual
Conv. Bus
Purchases
Type
of
Conv.
Buses
Fuel
Type
of
Conv.
Buses
2037 1 1 100% Standard Electric 0 0% N/A N/A
2039 1 1 100% Standard Electric 0 0% N/A N/A
The City of Ripon is not considering converting any of the conventional buses in service to zeroemission buses.
Section E: Facilities and Infrastructure Modifications
The City of Ripon will have some modifications to its facilities to accommodate the transition to zero-emission. Table 3 below is a table of facilities and infrastructure modifications. 5 Table 3: Facilities Information and Construction Timeline Division/
Facility
Name
Address Main
Function
Type of
Infrastructure
Service
Capacity
Needs
Upgrade?
(Yes/No)
Estimated
Construction
Timeline
Corporation
Yard
250 Doak
Ripon, CA
Vehicle
Maint.
4 Depot
Chargers will
be installed
4 Buses Yes 2035
Section F: Providing Service in Disadvantaged Communities CalEnviroScreen is a tool that identifies communities that are most vulnerable to pollution by using environmental, health, and socioeconomic data to produce a score for every census tract within the State of California. According to the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), disadvantaged communities are defined as communities with the top 25% of vulnerability scores according to CalEnviroScreen. According to the OEHHA Disadvantaged Communities map, there are no disadvantaged communities within the City of Ripon, as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: City of Ripon Disadvantaged Communities Map
Disadvantaged Communities
6 Section G: Workforce Training
The City of Ripon will utilize the training offered by the bus and charger manufacturers to instruct bus operators and maintenance personnel on zero-emission bus technologies.
Section H: Potential Funding Sources
Carl Moyer Program
The Carl Moyer Program provides monetary grants to private companies and public agencies to clean up their heavy-duty engines beyond that required by law through retrofitting, repowering or replacing their engines with newer and cleaner ones.
Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP) HVIP offers point-of-sale incentives for clean trucks and buses in California. HVIP dealers offer reduced-price vehicles directly to purchasers. Purchasers do not need to submit proposals, complicated paperwork or wait for reimbursement. Incentives are locked in at the time of the purchase order, while dealers process the required documentation.
Transportation Development Act (TDA)
The Mills-Alquist-Deddeh Act (SB 325) was enacted by the California Legislature to improve existing public transportation services and encourage regional transportation coordination.
Known as the TDA, this law provides funding to be allocated to transit and non-transit related purposes that comply with regional transportation plans.
TDA established two funding sources; the Local Transportation Fund (LTF), and the State Transit Assistance (STA) fund. The LTF is derived from a one quarter cent of the general sales tax collected statewide. The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, based on sales tax collected in each county, returns the general sales tax revenues to each county’s LTF. Each county then apportions the LTF funds within the county based on population.
The STA funds are appropriated by the legislature to the State Controller’s Office (SCO). The SCO then allocates the tax revenue, by formula, to planning agencies and other selected agencies.
Statue requires that 50% of STA funds be allocated according to population and 50% be allocated according to transit operator revenues from the prior fiscal year.
Low or No Emission Program (LowNo)
The LowNo competitive program provides funding to state and local governmental authorities for the purchase or lease of zero-emission and low-emission transit buses as well as acquisition, construction, and leasing of required supporting facilities.