The San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority (RTA), a key Regional Transport Office in California, has officially launched its first two battery-electric buses (BEBs) into service on Monday, July 15, 2024. This initiative marks a significant step for the agency in meeting California’s mandate for public transit electrification and underscores their commitment to environmental sustainability.
These new zero-emission electric buses will operate on Route 12, a vital corridor connecting downtown San Luis Obispo with Morro Bay and Los Osos. Geoff Straw, Executive Director of the RTA, stated, “RTA is dedicated to continuously seeking methods to make our transportation options cleaner and more environmentally friendly, all while maintaining dependable service throughout our county.” This deployment highlights the regional transport office’s proactive approach to adopting greener technologies.
Manufactured by GILLIG, a California-based company, these fully electric buses represent the latest advancements in battery-electric technology within the transit sector. The regional transport office is focused on ensuring these BEBs match the reliability and service standards of their existing diesel and gasoline fleets. The transition to electric is supported by industry-wide progress in battery technology, making it a viable and efficient alternative.
The operational benefits of battery electric vehicles are substantial. They offer reduced powering costs compared to diesel buses, operate more quietly, and eliminate fuel emissions, contributing to cleaner air quality in the region served by the regional transport office. To prepare for this launch, RTA collaborated with PG&E to upgrade the necessary charging infrastructure. Each bus requires approximately four hours to fully charge and boasts an estimated range of 240 miles per charge, according to Gillig. The regional transport office anticipates significant savings, estimating around $105,000 in diesel fuel costs and an additional $125,000 in maintenance expenses over the lifespan of these buses. These 40-foot buses were acquired through federal and state funding, each costing about $1.4 million. Looking ahead, the regional transport office has plans to further expand its electric fleet with five additional electric buses expected to arrive in 2025.
Further bolstering these green initiatives, the San Luis Obispo RTA will receive $2,572,888 in funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). This funding, facilitated by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021, championed by Rep. Carbajal, will support the purchase of additional battery electric buses and chargers to replace older, less efficient vehicles. This project is crucial for the regional transport office to meet growing ridership demands, which had doubled between 2005 and 2019, and aligns with their overarching goal of transitioning to a fully zero-emission fleet.
Rep. Carbajal emphasized the positive impact of this investment, stating, “Putting zero-emission buses on the roads of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo will help keep our air clean, reduce our region’s carbon footprint, and improve public transit reliability… This law is truly delivering once-in-a-generation investments that are raising the quality of life on the Central Coast.”
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also commented on the broader impact of such initiatives: “The Biden-Harris Administration is helping agencies across 47 states replace old buses running on dirty, expensive fuels by delivering modern and zero-emission buses, manufactured by American workers, that will connect more people to where they need to go.”
Andy Pease, SLO County Supervisor and RTA Board President, expressed his enthusiasm for the FTA funding award: “The RTA Board of Directors is thrilled that our project was awarded almost $2.6 million in Federal Transit Administration funding… This new funding will allow us to accelerate this transition sooner than we would have been able to otherwise. It will allow us to continue providing great transportation for our communities while also advancing our climate goals in San Luis Obispo County.” This reflects the commitment of the regional transport office to both service improvement and environmental responsibility.
For more detailed information about the services and initiatives of the San Luis Obispo RTA, please visit http://www.slorta.org.
