Samo moves forward with its transition to eLectric buses
Global design firm Stantec will work with Santa Monica to arrange a charging schedule for the new buses and coordinate with drivers—photo from Stantec.
Santa Monica is making strides towards a greener future with its commitment to electrifying public transportation. In December, the Santa Monica City Council approved the purchase of 30 additional electric buses, marking another major step towards achieving its zero-emission target.
In Oct. 2024, Big Blue Bus (BBB) received a $53.3 million grant from the California State Transportation Agency's Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP). The funding is primarily allocated towards the city’s Fleet Electrification Master Plan, which aims to transition BBB to a fully electric fleet by 2030. Currently, BBB operates 19 battery electric buses (BEBs), which collectively traveled 333,561 miles in 2024. While an exact timeline for deploying the 30 new buses has not yet been announced, the city is expected to integrate them into service in the coming years as it moves towards full electrification.
The transition to a fully electric bus fleet offers significant environmental benefits for Santa Monica and the surrounding region. By replacing diesel and compressed natural gas (CNG) buses with electric alternatives, the city is reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality. Unlike fossil fuel-powered vehicles, BEBs produce no tailpipe emissions, lowering the amount of harmful pollutants released into the air. Additionally, electric buses contribute to a quieter urban environment, decreasing noise pollution on major streets. These improvements align with both local sustainability goals and California's broader mandate requiring all public transit agencies to transition to zero-emission fleets by 2040.
Santa Monica's bus electrification plan fits into California's larger effort to transition away from fossil fuels. The state has set ambitious targets for reducing transportation-related emissions, including a mandate that all new passenger vehicles sold in California be zero-emission by 2035.
Beyond its efforts to electrify buses, Santa Monica has implemented several initiatives to encourage electric vehicle (EV) adoption and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. One of the city’s most significant programs is the Electric Vehicle Action Plan (EVAP), which was developed to address greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks—responsible for 64 percent of Santa Monica's local carbon emissions.
With substantial funding and strong political backing, Santa Monica is making steady progress toward an all-electric transportation system. By accelerating the transition to electric buses and investing in clean transportation solutions, the city is ensuring a greener and healthier future for its residents and visitors.
Sophie Roth (’25), president of the Environmental Defense Club at Samo, highlighted the need for climate help from each individual person and not just from the state or city.
“The electrification of gas vehicles is a big step in the right direction for O2 emissions, but everyone needs to pitch in if we really want to make a difference. A lot of people don't think they can make an impact so they try and leave climate responsibility to everyone else, but every individual can do something and if everyone does a little bit of everything, it can morph into something really big and powerful,” Roth said. “I think gaining a sense of community within where you live and staying informed on the climate activity in your area is super important especially right now, with the election and experiencing firsthand the impact of the Palisades fires.”
