Streetsblog Los Angeles

Mitsubishi, and other bus makers, have developed all electric buses.

Long Beach Transit (LBT) is considering two common, albeit game-changing RFPs (depending on their decisions): to purchase new buses that fit within the so-called alternative fuel sectors–that is, hybrid, CNG, or electric.

Before I even make another statement, there are two that shouldn’t even be on that list–and it isn’t electric.

As dollar signs float through the various minds of various transit board members across the globe, let’s first break down LBT’s two current RFPs.

The first one was issued last October following the receiving of the Department of Transportation’s Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) grant. It also acted as one of LBT’s most progressive: instead of simply following the grant’s requirement of reducing GHG emissions and energy costs, which means any alternative fuel buses could be purchased with the grant monies, LBT decided to offer an addition of Prop Bond 1B funds to obtain a 10 bus fleet of zero emission electric buses. If succeeded and followed through, it would be the largest electric bus fleet in the nation.

This RFP, whose applicants were narrowed down this past February, has been slightly delayed following LBT staff’s recommendation of one company over another and has prompted the Board to reevaluate their recommendation process. Deferring their vote and holding study sessions, the LBT Board was presented with a breakdown of how the staff went about not just the RFP, but their decision.

In an interesting contradiction to bringing in electric buses, Board Member  Lori Ann Farrell asked if LBT was required to spend the grant on electric buses–to which LBT Maintenance and Facilities Executive Director Rolando Cruz explained that, while not required, the 1B funds LBT would put up themselves allow them to purchase ten of the more expensive, zero-emission electric buses that the grant alone would not permit them to do. Read more…

Major changes take effect this week on multiple Long Beach Transit (LBT) routes. But the biggest change is the creation of a new 11-mile 176 Zap Route.

NEW ROUTE: 176 ZAP

The new 176 ZAP was funded through a special federal operating grant–the Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) program under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act-A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU)–scored by LBT. The program itself is intended to improve access to transportation services to employment and employment-related activities. LBT scored the second highest out of 12 projects from other agencies to receive said grant.

The 176 ZAP will travel between the west side near Pacific Coast Highway and Santa Fe Avenue and end at the Lakewood Mall above Long Beach Airport via Lakewood Boulevard.

The creation of the 176 was key in two major ways: it added another ZAP line to the fleet–meaning it only stops at major cross streets–and it deeply connects the westside (e.g. Cabrillo High School, Villages at Cabrillo, Technology Park, etc) with access to major connection points, mostly intended to help workers and students better commute as the purpose of the grant emphasized. It not only stops at the Blue Line, but also will connect riders to both Long Beach City College campuses, Kaiser, Long Beach Community Medical Center, CSULB’s student housing on PCH, the hotel consortium on Lakewood, the airport, Douglas Park, Boeing, Lakewood High School, and as previously mentioned, the Lakewood Mall.

The first 176 pickup at Technology Place is at 6:46AM and will occur every thirty minutes after, with a total route time of 48 minutes.

ROUTE ALTERATIONS: Read more…