LA Metro awarded $104 million for zero-emission buses and infrastructure

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) has announced that it has received a $104 million federal grant for the purchase and deployment of 160 battery-electric buses as well as for the procurement and installation of on-route and depot charging stations.

This will enable LA Metro to support the transition to zero-emission bus services on routes operating out of its Divisions 9 (El Monte) and 18 (Carson) including the J Line (Silver) Bus Rapid Transit service. The grant also funds related workforce development and training activities.

Glendale City Councilmember and Metro Board Chair Ara J. Najarian said: “This grant for Metro’s Zero Emission Bus and Infrastructure Deployment Project will help bring our agency closer to having a fully electric bus fleet in the coming decade. On behalf of our Board of Directors, I want to personally thank the Biden Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation – and of course – our Los Angeles County Congressional Delegation for supporting Metro’s successful effort to secure these valuable federal funds.”

The grant is being provided through a nationwide competitive process in which LA Metro submitted an application for the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Low or No Emission Grant Program.

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“As we navigate rising temperatures, longer and more severe droughts, and a myriad of other consequences of human-made climate change, let’s not forget our commitment to future generations,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “Through electrifying our transportation system we have so much ground to gain in the fight against climate change – cleaner air, lower emissions and healthier communities. This historic investment brings us another step closer to meeting our goals and furthers our fight against climate change.” 

LA Metro CEO Stephanie N. Wiggins said: “This grant will strengthen our agency’s efforts to provide clean, dependable zero-emission bus service to millions of transit riders.  Thank you to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez, members of the Los Angeles County Congressional Delegation and the Metro Board of Directors for supporting this grant request. I cant wait to get these new buses on the road.”

The re-structuring of LA Metro bus services to be zero-emission is incorporated into the authority’s NextGen Bus Plan, which is re-organising bus service to be faster, more frequent, reliable and accessible for Metro riders.