Innovative Clean Transit rule

The Innovative Clean Transit Rule (ICT) is a regulation promulgated by the California Air Resources Board which requires public transit agencies in the state of California to switch to Zero-emissions vehicle buses. It permits them to use either electric buses or fuel cell buses.[1]

Innovative Clean Transit
A Proterra BE35 battery-electric bus operated by San Joaquin RTD, shown beside its fixed charging station.
California Air Resources Board
CitationTitle 13, California Code of Regulations, Section 2023 (13 CCR 2023)
Enacted byCalifornia Office of Administrative Law
EnactedAugust 13, 2019
EffectiveOctober 1, 2019 (2019-10-01)
Status: Current legislation

Description

The rule was adopted in December 2018, and it requires all public transit agencies in the state to gradually transition their fleets to zero emissions buses, with the goal of having all operating buses on the road by zero-emissions by 2040.[2] ICT applies to all agencies in the state that own, operate, or lease buses with a Gross Vehicle Weight greater than 14,000 lb (6,400 kg). Individual transit agencies have varying requirements under the rule, depending on their size, but by the year 2029, all new transit bus purchases must by zero-emissions buses.[1]

CARB estimated the rule would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 19 million metric tons, the equivalent of taking four million cars off the road.[2][3] ICT amends the existing Section 2023 under Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations, which was previously entitled Fleet Rule for Transit Agencies.[4]

Development

Under the previous Fleet Rule (13 CCR §2023, adopted February 2000),[5]: 6  transit agencies were required to meet emissions requirements for urban buses under a "diesel path" or "alternative fuel path", with the exception of agencies in the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), which were required to follow the "alternative fuel path".[4] SCAQMD separately mandated that diesel-fueled buses would no longer be purchased (Rule 1192, adopted June 2000).[6] Urban buses were defined as vehicles that have a capacity of at least 15 passengers and were intended for intra-city operation.[4][7] In addition, under the Fleet Rule, agencies with large fleets (more than 200 buses) were required to participate in the Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) demonstration program.[7] The regulations were extended in 2005 to apply to smaller vehicles operated by transit agencies, including the maintenance fleet.[7]

CARB funded a pilot program for the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to help transit agencies including Visalia Transit, FCRTA (Fresno County), San Joaquin RTD, and MAX (Modesto) purchase battery-electric buses from Proterra starting in 2016.[8] However, the ICT rule was much broader than the individual regional programs, eliminating all transit vehicle emissions and applying to all transit agencies state-wide, the first such mandate in the United States. The mandate was supported unanimously by the board's sixteen members, led by then-chair Mary D. Nichols.[3]

Transition schedules and plans

Large transit agencies are required to have 25% of new bus purchases as zero-emission buses (ZEBs) starting in 2023, 50% of new purchases as ZEBs starting in 2026, and 100% of new purchases as ZEBs starting in 2029. Small transit agencies are required to make 25% of new purchases as ZEBs in 2026 and 100% of new purchases as ZEBs in 2029 and all years thereafter. An agency is considered large if it operates at least 100 buses, or if it operates at least 65 buses in the San Joaquin Valley or the SCAQMD.[9]

Under ICT, agencies are required to develop and submit rollout plans for their operations to transition to zero-emissions. Large agencies must complete their plans by July 1, 2020, and small agencies must complete their plans by July 1, 2023.

Scope

Per the regulation, ZEBs are defined to include battery electric buses and fuel cell buses, but do not include electric trolleybuses which draw power from overhead lines. Those are exempt from the regulation as they are already electric.[4]: ¶(a)(2)  The rule does not apply to any vehicle operated by Caltrans, Caltrain, Amtrak, or any local school district. It also does not apply to trolleybuses or any vehicle that operates on rails or a fixed guideway.[4]: ¶(a)(2) 

Implementation

The Antelope Valley Transit Authority has set a goal to be the first all-electric fleet by the end of 2018, ahead of the tightened regulations.[10] The Los Angeles Department of Transportation also plans to complete its transition well in advance of the state mandate, by 2026.[9] The San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency plan to purchase only electric buses starting 2025, to complete the transition by 2035.[11]

References
  1. "Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) Regulation Fact Sheet | California Air Resources Board". ww2.arb.ca.gov. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
  2. "California transitioning to all-electric public bus fleet by 2040" (Press release). California Air Resources Board. December 14, 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  3. Tabuchi, Hiroko (2018-12-15). "California Requires New City Buses to Be Electric by 2029". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
  4. "Final Regulation Order, Title 13, California Code of Regulations, Section 2023" (PDF). California Air Resources Board. December 14, 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  5. Gladstein, Neadross & Associates (June 2014). Equivalent Strategies for the ARB Zero Emission Bus Regulation (PDF) (Report). Southern California Gas Company. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  6. "Rule 1192 - Clean On-Road Transit Buses". South Coast AQMD. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  7. Hursh, Michael A. (June 13, 2018). Annual Update on California Air Resources Board (CARB) Regulations (PDF) (Report). Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  8. "San Joaquin Valley Transit Electrification Project" (PDF). California Air Resources Board. March 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  9. Silver, Fred; Welch, Dan; Paddon, Thomas (June 2021). CALIFORNIA TRANSIT AGENCIES CHART A COURSE TO ZERO EMISSIONS: A REVIEW OF PROPOSED ZEB PATHWAYS UNDER THE INNOVATIVE CLEAN TRANSIT REGULATION (PDF) (Report). CalSTART.
  10. "Electric Bus Fleet Conversion". Antelope Valley Transit Authority. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  11. Banchero, Rick (2018-05-15). "San Francisco Commits To All-Electric Bus Fleet By 2035". SFMTA. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
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