Report on the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s Zero-Emission Bus Fleet Initiative

Executive Summary

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) is advancing its commitment to a zero-emission public transit fleet through the strategic procurement of battery electric buses. A recent decision by the SFMTA Board of Directors to approve a $10 million contract with European manufacturer Solaris marks a significant step in this transition. This initiative is a direct response to the California Air Resources Board’s mandate for all transit agencies to operate fully zero-emission fleets by 2040. The agency’s strategy involves a multi-vendor approach, navigating complex procurement regulations, and addressing substantial infrastructure challenges, all while contributing to several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The SFMTA’s transition to a zero-emission fleet is fundamentally aligned with global sustainability targets, placing significant emphasis on the following SDGs:

• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): By replacing its hybrid bus fleet, the SFMTA is working to create a more sustainable urban environment. This initiative directly supports the goal of providing access to safe, affordable, and sustainable transport systems for all, while reducing the adverse per capita environmental impact of the city, particularly concerning air quality.
• SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) & SDG 13 (Climate Action): The move to battery electric buses represents a critical shift towards cleaner energy sources in public transportation. This action is a core component of climate action strategies, aimed at significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the municipal transit sector and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): The project necessitates significant investment in innovation and the modernization of public infrastructure. The required upgrades to bus yards and power supply systems are essential for building a resilient and sustainable infrastructure capable of supporting a next-generation electric fleet.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The SFMTA is engaging in multi-stakeholder partnerships with domestic and international manufacturers, including New Flyer, Gillig, and Solaris. This collaborative approach is vital for sourcing technology, fostering market competition, and navigating international procurement frameworks like the “Buy America” requirements to achieve its sustainability objectives.

Procurement Strategy and Fleet Details

Multi-Vendor Procurement Approach

To diversify its fleet and ensure technological viability, the SFMTA has engaged with multiple manufacturers following a 2022 pilot program. The procurement plan includes:

1. Solaris: A newly approved $10 million contract for six buses (three 40-foot and three 60-foot). While currently European-based, Solaris is seeking to establish a U.S. manufacturing facility by 2027, which could align with “Buy America” provisions in the future. Their expertise in trolleybus manufacturing also presents a strategic advantage for the SFMTA’s long-term goals.
2. New Flyer: A contract was approved in April for seven electric buses (four 40-foot and three 60-foot). New Flyer received the highest marks in the SFMTA’s 2023 evaluation report and is considered a viable U.S.-based manufacturer.
3. Gillig: The agency plans to purchase five 40-foot electric buses from the Hayward-based manufacturer later this year.

This strategy mitigates risk and ensures access to a competitive market, which is crucial for achieving the large-scale fleet conversion required to meet SDG 11 and SDG 13.

Implementation Timeline and Challenges

Projected Timeline and State Mandate Discrepancy

The SFMTA’s current timeline projects a complete transition to a zero-emission fleet by 2043. This target is three years beyond the state-mandated deadline of 2040. The agency anticipates seeking exemptions while it continues to purchase hybrid buses as a transitional measure to replace its oldest vehicles.

Key Implementation Hurdles

The pace of the transition has been questioned by board members, but SFMTA staff have identified several significant challenges that directly impact the timeline and relate to SDG 9 (Infrastructure):

• Infrastructure Modernization: The procurement of electric buses is intrinsically linked to the comprehensive upgrade of the agency’s bus yards to support charging and maintenance.
• Funding: The SFMTA is still in the process of seeking the necessary funding for these critical bus yard upgrades.
• Power Supply: Ensuring an adequate and reliable power supply to the upgraded facilities presents a major logistical and infrastructural challenge.
• Regulatory Compliance: Procuring a large volume of buses with federal funds requires adherence to “Buy America” requirements, limiting the pool of eligible manufacturers.

Conclusion and Next Steps

The SFMTA is making deliberate progress toward its goal of a zero-emission fleet, a cornerstone of its commitment to building a sustainable city as outlined in the SDGs. The partnership with Solaris, alongside existing domestic contracts, diversifies the agency’s technological base. However, the successful and timely achievement of this transition is contingent upon overcoming substantial infrastructure and funding challenges. The contract with Solaris now requires final approval from the Board of Supervisors to proceed.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s (SFMTA) procurement of battery electric buses addresses several interconnected Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus on transitioning to a zero-emission public transit fleet directly relates to goals concerning sustainable cities, clean energy, climate action, and resilient infrastructure.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The core of the article is about improving urban public transportation in San Francisco. By purchasing electric buses, the city aims to create a more sustainable, efficient, and environmentally friendly transit system for its residents.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The transition from hybrid buses to a “zero-emission bus fleet” is a direct climate change mitigation strategy. This effort is driven by a state-level mandate from the “California Air Resources Board” to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from public transport, aligning with efforts to combat climate change.
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The shift to battery electric buses represents a move towards cleaner energy sources for transportation. While the article doesn’t detail the source of the electricity, the use of electric vehicles is a key component of increasing the share of clean energy in the transport sector.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The article discusses the need to develop sustainable infrastructure. This includes not only the buses themselves but also the necessary upgrades to “the agency’s current bus yards” and the challenge of “supplying power to the bus yards.” It also touches on industrial development, mentioning the potential for Solaris to establish a “U.S.-based manufacturing facility.”

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 11.2: By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all. The entire initiative described in the article, which involves the SFMTA purchasing new electric buses to replace its older hybrid fleet, is a direct effort to improve and sustain the public transport system in San Francisco.
2. Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management. The primary goal of acquiring a “zero-emission bus fleet” is to reduce air pollution and the city’s carbon footprint, directly contributing to lowering the adverse environmental impact of San Francisco.
3. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The article explicitly mentions the “California Air Resources Board has a mandate that requires transit agencies to have a zero-emission bus fleet by 2040.” This is a clear example of a state-level policy integrating climate change measures into regional and municipal planning.
4. Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes. The plan to purchase electric buses and the corresponding need to upgrade “the agency’s current bus yards” to support them perfectly aligns with this target of upgrading infrastructure with clean technologies.
5. Target 7.3: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency. Electric buses are generally more energy-efficient than internal combustion or hybrid vehicles. The SFMTA’s transition is an effort to improve the energy efficiency of its public transportation fleet.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions or implies several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress.

• For Target 11.2 (Sustainable Transport): A direct indicator is the number of new, sustainable vehicles added to the public transport fleet. The article specifies the purchase of “three 40-foot and three 60-foot electric buses” from Solaris, with plans for more from New Flyer and Gillig.
• For Target 11.6 (Reduce Environmental Impact) & Target 9.4 (Clean Technologies): A key indicator is the proportion of vehicles in the public transport fleet that are zero-emission. The article frames the entire project as an effort to “replace its fleet of hybrid buses with a zero-emission bus fleet,” making the ratio of zero-emission buses to total buses a clear metric of progress.
• For Target 13.2 (Integrate Climate Change Measures): An indicator is the timeline for achieving policy-mandated climate goals. The article provides specific dates that can be tracked: the state mandate deadline of 2040 and the SFMTA’s projected completion date of 2043. The gap between these two dates is a measurable indicator of the agency’s pace and challenges.
• For Target 9.4 (Upgrade Infrastructure): An indicator is the level of investment in and completion of supporting infrastructure. The article implies this by stating that the purchase of buses is “tied to upgrading the agency’s current bus yards” and that the agency is “still seeking funding” for these upgrades. Progress can be measured by funds secured and the percentage of bus yards upgraded.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: thevoicesf.org