![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/img-26-09-08-3BB55.jpg\" "\\"A")
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
A Sacramento Regional Transit bus powered by compressed natural gas crosses H and Seventh streets in downtown Sacramento in 2021. RT is buying 78 new natural gas buses as the agency faces funding, infrastructure and technology challenges in its transition to a zero-emission fleet.<\/p>\n
Xavier Mascare\u00f1as<\/p>\n
Sacramento Bee file<\/p>\n
Sacramento Regional Transit is delaying its pursuit of an all-electric bus fleet, a goal that follows state requirements and was taken up by the agency<\/a> more than four years ago.<\/p>\n Two actions taken by the transit agency\u2019s board of directors confirm the agency is committed to purchasing 78 compressed natural gas buses, 29 of which were initially supposed to be fuel-cell electric vehicles. These purchases stand in contrast to the California Air Resources Board\u2019s requirement for all transit agencies to use only zero-emission buses<\/a> \u2014 meaning battery electric or fuel-cell electric \u2014 by 2040.<\/p>\n The 78 buses, which are expected to replace buses that were due for retirement<\/a> July 1, would make up about one-third of the fleet of 40-foot buses<\/a>. With the previous buses averaging 16 years of service, replacing them with natural gas buses could complicate RT\u2019s ability to meet the 2040 deadline.<\/p>\n The purchase of the buses, \u201cis a near-term fleet replacement decision based on current operational, infrastructure, funding and technology considerations,\u201d RT spokesperson Jessica Gonzalez said. \u201cIt does not represent a change in SacRT\u2019s long-term commitment to transitioning to zero-emission technology.\u201d<\/p>\n RT is not alone in facing these kinds of decisions, according to the Sacramento Area Council of Governments. Other California transit agencies are also dealing with hard choices amid financial pressures and declining ridership.<\/p>\n Federal grants shift to natural gas buses<\/p>\n The commitment to purchasing new natural gas buses \u2014 which still produce tailpipe emissions but generally emit less of some harmful air pollutants than conventional diesel buses \u2014 comes from two actions taken by the agency and its board of directors in July and August.<\/p>\n Twenty-nine of the vehicles were initially meant to be fuel-cell electric buses, which use hydrogen to generate electricity onboard. In 2024, Sacramento Regional Transit received $76.8 million<\/a> through the Federal Transit Administration\u2019s Low or No Emission Grant program<\/a> specifically to purchase hydrogen fuel cell buses, convert the bus maintenance facility in McClellan Park into a low-emission facility and start a workforce development program.<\/p>\n When RT\u2019s budget for the next fiscal year was approved in June, the project\u2019s budget included the grant. The FTA then \u201capproved SacRT\u2019s request to remove all EV infrastructure and zero-emission elements\u201d from the application of for the grant, according to board documents.<\/p>\n In July, the board of directors approved reallocating the $76.8 million to purchase natural gas buses and rehabilitating the McClellan Park complex, though without the low-emission infrastructure.<\/p>\n Sacramento City Councilmember Roger Dickinson, an RT board member, commented on the shift<\/a> at the July board meeting.<\/p>\n \u201cI am going to support (this) but I regret seeing this switch made necessary,\u201d Dickinson said. \u201cAnd this is not instigated at local initiative, at least as I understand it. We should make that clear.\u201d<\/p>\n The other 49 natural gas buses were supported by a $39.7 million grant last year through the same FTA program. The agency also acquired $9.8 million in state transit assistance funds for the project.<\/p>\n At an August RT meeting, the board approved the purchase of the 49 buses through from Gillig. The buses range in cost from about $858,000 and to $893,000 in their current configurations.<\/p>\n The 49 buses are not scheduled to begin production until approximately September 2027, with deliveries anticipated to be completed by September 2028, Gonzalez said. RT\u2019s Mobility Advisory Council, which represents and includes members of the disabled community, will review the designs for accessibility and can propose configuration changes costing up to a combined $500,000.<\/p>\n But the purchase of the 49 buses are is dependent on permission from the Air Resources Board. The purchase violates CARB\u2019s requirement that 50% of the agency\u2019s new bus purchases be zero-emission in 2026. RT is continuing to work with CARB to obtain an exemption, for which an individual application would be submitted in November.<\/p>\n \u201cCARB has been supportive of SacRT\u2019s efforts,\u201d the agency said in board documents, due to \u201cthe current fiscal and operational challenges facing the transit industry, including the need to preserve available federal funding and the availability and maturity of zero-emission bus technology.\u201d<\/p>\n Why RT is sticking with natural gas<\/p>\n RT decided to purchase new natural gas buses because of a variety of factors, including funding, infrastructure and timing, according to board documents.<\/p>\n \u201cCNG is a technology SacRT can support today,\u201d Gonzalez said. \u201cThe agency already has CNG fueling infrastructure, maintenance capabilities and operational experience.\u201d<\/p>\n RT does not have fueling infrastructure for hydrogen fuel-cell buses or charging infrastructure for a large number of battery-electric buses. Fuel-cell buses are also \u201cbuilt to order,\u201d which can take longer to manufacture, Gonzalez said.<\/p>\n The timing is an issue because 78 aging buses are due for retirement and need to be replaced quickly.<\/p>\n Dickinson had a different understanding of the reallocation of the $76.8 million from fuel-cell buses and infrastructure, saying that he suspects the switch was part of changing priorities under President Donald Trump\u2019s federal administration. He said he believed the grant was going to be revoked if the agency spent the money on fuel-cell buses.<\/p>\n \u201cUnfortunately, this kind of direction from the Federal Transit Administration is a manifestation of the antipathy that they current federal administration has regarding climate change,\u201d he said. \u201cThis overriding climate denial at the federal level is compromising our ability to do what we think is necessary locally.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked about the reallocation, RT said in a statement that \u201cthe Federal Transit Administration has also provided transit agencies with greater flexibility under the Low or No Emission program to request changes from zero-emission to low-emission technology, recognizing the challenges agencies face in deploying zero-emission fleets.\u201d<\/p>\n RT said it was still pursuing zero-emission projects.<\/p>\n In its 2026-27 budget, which began July 1, RT still has $62 million budgeted for projects involving zero-emission buses, fueling infrastructure and workforce development. It is seeking $57.7 million for 21 fuel-cell electric buses<\/a> through a State Transportation Agency program.<\/p>\n Natural gas buses offer savings, require exemption<\/p>\n The compressed natural gas buses chosen for the 49 replacements are the best option outside of electric, according to Dickinson.<\/p>\n \u201cRegional transit decided to begin buying CNG buses in 1990 as a step toward cleaner air,\u201d he said, adding that he was involved in the decision process. \u201cThe CNG buses that RT is now going to get are better than the ones that were available when we started buying them.\u201d<\/p>\n According to RT board documents, the new buses will reduce smog-forming nitrogen oxide emissions by 90%, compared with the Environmental Protection Agency baseline standard.<\/p>\n By RT\u2019s calculations, they would also save up to $2 million annually in spare parts and non-preventive maintenance<\/a> labor during the first year of the manufacturer warranty. About $460,000 would be saved in fuel costs.<\/p>\n Still, the purchase would be in violation of CARB\u2019s Innovative Clean Transit regulation. While having all zero-emission buses by 2040 is the overarching goal, there are also short-term regulations that transit agencies must meet and, if they don\u2019t, they require approval. For large transit agencies, the rules require 25% of bus purchases be to be zero-emission throughout 2023, 50% in 2026 and 100% in 2029.<\/p>\n Exemptions can be made because of \u201ccircumstances that are beyond a transit agency\u2019s control<\/a>,\u201d including financial hardship and the availability of vehicles, according to the CARB website.<\/p>\n Many transit agencies are facing funding issues. Four of five transit agencies in Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties are projected to face structural operating deficits<\/a> over the next 10 years, according to SACOG\u2019s long-range financial plan published this year.<\/p>\n \u201cThe near-term goal is to help stabilize transit funding and strengthen financial sustainability; an exemption would allow transit agencies to focus on this,\u201d SACOG spokesperson Mia Lopez said. \u201cThe transition to a zero-emissions fleet and supporting infrastructure is prohibitively expensive.\u201d<\/p>\n Related Stories from Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n
![\"Profile](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1788879251_480_Smalstig-Madison.jpg\")