October 24, 2024 -- Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus (BBB) received a $53.3 million State grant to improve service, electrify its fleet and develop its workforce, City officials announced Thursday.
The grant from the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program, or TIRCP, enable BBB to "meet statewide greenhouse gas reduction goals and advance Santa Monica’s commitment to a Sustainable & Connected community."
The lion's share of the grant -- $35.5 million -- will be used to complete the phased implementation of an electrification master plan, transit officials said.
The agency will use $17.3 million to purchase 73 battery electric buses and $406,405 to "ensure staff are well trained in operating and maintaining the new buses."
“We are thrilled that the state is investing in our project to expand Big Blue Bus service and complete our conversion to a 100 percent battery electric, zero-emissions fleet," Santa Monica DOT Director Anuj Gupta said in a statement.
"This funding will enhance our ability to deliver sustainable transit service--reducing emissions and congestion, and connecting our community to opportunity."
BBB's Fleet Electrification Master Plan is a detailed seven-phase strategy for transitioning from a renewable natural gas fleet to a 100 percent zero-emissions fleet by 2031, BBB officilas transit said.
Under the plan, BBB will implement electric utility and charging equipment upgrades at its depot, which includes constructing a "large canopy equipped with overhead reel charging dispensers that can fully charge an electric bus in about four hours."
The 73 new zero-emission battery electric buses purchased with the grant will replace compressed natural gas vehicles "that have surpassed their useful life," officials said.
The new buses will be ADA accessible, have approximately 40 seats and feature new bicycle racks capable of holding up to three bicycles.
The grant also will pay for more than 1,100 hours of "advanced, high-voltage safety training for its staff in partnership with the California Transit Training Consortium."
BBB will also use grant funds to improve Route 2 service on Wilshire Boulevard, connecting the route to L.A. County Metro’s D Line at two stations, once the rail line is fully extended to the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center in 2027, officials said.
That year, the agency will add more than 12,350 service hours to the route and increase trip frequency from every 20 minutes to every 10 minutes.
“These funds will deliver tangible improvements for Big Blue Bus riders, enhance the social and economic well-being of the communities we serve, and provide a world-class transit experience for major regional events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Gupta said.
BBB was one of 27 transit agencies that received funding in TIRCP Cycle 7, officials said. BBB received 100 percent of its requested funding amount and scored “High” to “Medium-High” in nearly every project rating.
Last April, Big Blue Bus was awarded $22.9 million in TIRCP funds to purchase five battery electric buses and complete Phases 2 through 4 of its Master Plan.