City of Culver City Adopts its Long-Term Fleet Electrification Plan
City of Culver City sent this bulletin at 09/21/2021 03:14 PM PDT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 21, 2021
Contact: Dia Turner, Community Engagement dia.turner@culvercity.org (310) 253-6540
City of Culver City Renews Commitment to Sustainability by Adopting a Long-Term Fleet Electrification Plan
At the September 20, 2021 City Council Meeting, the City Council adopted a long-term electrification plan to transition the Culver CityBus fleet to a 100% zero emission fleet by 2028, in alignment with the Los Angeles County Transportation Electrification Partnership and in time for the Los Angeles Summer Olympic games. 2028 also marks the Centennial Anniversary of Culver CityBus and will demonstrate a commitment to the next 100 years of sustainable service.
“It is an exciting time for our community, Culver CityBus, and our partner New Flyer of America, as we take the next step in our commitment to improving the region by reducing our carbon footprint and enhancing the quality of life for the hundreds of thousands of people who live, work, learn and play in Culver City,” said Culver City Mayor Alex Fisch.
The Transportation Department also introduced the first Battery-electric bus to the Mayor and Council. The zero emission bus began service today, September 21 – which also celebrates International Zero Emission Day. The bus, an Xcelsior CHARGE NG is the first of four that will join the Culver City Fleet in the next month. “We are now ready for the evolution to electricity as a clean renewable fuel source, and today we take the first step towards an even cleaner future, with cleaner, newer, and quieter electric buses,” said Chief Transportation Officer, Rolando Cruz.
“Culver City is proud to once again lead sustainable initiatives that not only improve our city, but improve the world,” added Cruz. “This new investment represents a bold shift in how we move people to, through and from our community on public transit, while reaffirming Culver City’s commitment to sustainable energy practices.
Culver City has always been a progressive transit city, showing a strong commitment over the years to advance the goals of environmental sustainability. Culver City has played a key role in improving the region’s mobility and air quality by helping to reduce car trips and vehicle miles travelled since 1928.
For more than twenty years, Culver City has relied heavily on alternative fuels to power the City’s fleet and has set a high standard for sustainable fleet operations. In 2004, the Culver CityBus transit fleet transitioned to 100% Compressed Natural Gas, becoming the first in the South Coast Air Quality Management District to do so, and the second in the State of California. Not only has the City’s commitment to alternative fuels achieved actual pollutant reductions within city limits, but its efforts also to incorporate advanced fuel technologies into its operations have been replicated throughout the United States.
With this next evolution to cleaner, quieter zero emission buses, Culver CityBus is affirming its commitment to fully electrifying its fleet by 2028 - its 100th anniversary - beginning the next 100 years with a renewed commitment to sustainability.
Named California Transit Association’s Small Operator Transit Agency of the Year in 2020, Culver CityBus is the second oldest municipally-owned bus line in California. Culver CityBus began operation on March 3, 1928, and over the past 93 years, passengers on Culver CityBus have enjoyed safe, reliable, convenient, and friendly public transportation service.
Culver CityBus’ fleet is comprised of 54 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses. Culver CityBus operates seven routes, serving nearly 5 million riders annually with a service area encompassing 25.5 square miles, which includes the Westside communities of Venice, Westchester, Westwood, West Los Angeles, Palms, Playa Vista, Marina Del Rey, Rancho Park, Mar Vista, Century City, and Culver City. Culver CityBus is a public transit system that provides service to the people who live and work in and around Culver City with safe and reliable public transportation to the citizens of Culver City and the surrounding communities.
About Culver City
Culver City is a five-square-mile, urban community of 39,000 residents surrounded mostly by the City of Los Angeles but also shares a border with unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. It is centrally located on the Westside near Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Los Angeles International Airport. Culver City is particularly known for its well-run public school system, "small town" charm, growing high-tech and creative economies, and a dynamic downtown that is regionally known as a destination for restaurants, live theater, and art galleries.
