Title
Approval of the San Julian Electric School Bus Purchase Project, Including the Use of Bond Program Funds to Support the Purchase of 79 Electric School Buses, and Amend the Transportation Services Branch’s Strategic Execution Plan to Incorporate Therein
Transportation Services and Eco-Sustainability Office
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Brief Description:
(Approval of the San Julian Electric School Bus Purchase Project, including the use of Bond Program funds to support the purchase of 79 electric school buses and amend the Transportation Services Branch’s Strategic Execution Plan (SEP) to incorporate therein) Recommends approval of the San Julian Electric School Bus Purchase Project, including the use of approximately $12.5 million of Bond Program funds to support the purchase of 79 electric school buses at an estimated total project cost of $34 million.
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Recommendation
Action Proposed:
Approval of the San Julian Electric School Bus Project, including the use of approximately $12.5 million of Bond Program funds to support the purchase of 79 electric school buses to replace aging diesel school buses, at an estimated total project cost of $34 million, and amend the Transportation Services Branch’s (Transportation) SEP accordingly; and authorization for the Chief Procurement Officer or designee(s) to execute all instruments necessary, as legally permissible, to implement the project, including the purchase of the electric school buses.
The $12.5 million portion of the project budget will be funded with Bond Program funds earmarked in Measure RR specifically for replacing aging and polluting school buses. The balance of the total purchase cost will be funded through various grants awarded to the District. Purchase of the school buses is anticipated to begin in Summer 2027, and delivery is anticipated to be completed by Fall 2028. The electric school buses are estimated to be in-service no later than December 31, 2028, subject to EPA approval, with disposition of the 79 diesel school buses following the same schedule.
The procurement of these 79 buses is part of a broader comprehensive effort that will bring the necessary infrastructure to fully electrify the San Julian Bus Yard and implement a workforce development, bus maintenance, and training program at Los Angeles Unified.
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Body
Background:
Los Angeles Unified has prioritized efforts to modernize its transportation fleet while advancing sustainability and public health goals. The purchase of 79 electric buses will enable the District to replace aging diesel buses with zero-emission vehicles while also investing in the necessary infrastructure to support long-term electrification through a complementary project at the San Julian Bus Yard (which is being presented to the Board of Education for its consideration via Board Report #423-25/26). This includes the installation of charging stations and related improvements, positioning the site as a fully electrified hub capable of supporting daily electric bus operations. In addition to environmental benefits, the transition to electric buses is expected to yield operational savings by substantially reducing ongoing fuel and maintenance costs compared to diesel vehicles.
Bond Oversight Committee Recommendations:
This item was considered by the School Construction Bond Citizens’ Oversight Committee (BOC) at its meeting on April 30, 2026, as referenced in Exhibit A. The presentation provided to the BOC is included as Exhibit B. Staff has concluded that the proposed Transportation SEP amendment is in alignment with the BOC’s recommendation, and will facilitate Los Angeles Unified’s ability to successfully implement the Transportation SEP.
Expected Outcomes:
The replacement of 79 diesel school buses with electric school buses will help reduce harmful nitrous oxide, particulate matter, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve ambient air quality in the communities in which the buses operate. The replacement will also reduce ongoing operational costs for school transportation.
Board Options and Consequences:
If the Board of Education (Board) does not approve the San Julian Electric School Bus Purchase Project, the District will be unable to leverage $12.5 million of Measure RR bond proceeds to secure $21.5 million in grant funds to purchase 79 electric school buses. Additionally, the District will forgo the environmental benefits and reduced operational costs.
If the Board approves the project, the District shall proceed with purchasing 79 electric school buses to replace an equivalent number of diesel buses within the fleet that are approaching the end of their useful life. This will ultimately result in reduced operational costs and GHG emission levels.
Policy Implications:
Approval of the San Julian Electric School Bus Purchase Project supports the “Transitioning Los Angeles Unified School District to 100% Clean, Renewable Energy Resulting in Healthier Students and More Sustainable, Equitable Communities” (Res-018-19/20) Board Resolution.
Budget Impact:
The purchase of the 79 electric school buses will be completed through the use of approximately $12.5 million of Measure RR bond proceeds earmarked specifically for replacing aging and polluting school buses ($5,850,000 of which provides for the District’s mandatory cost share for the EPA CHDV grant), and approximately $21.5 million in combined grant awards from the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles (CHDV) Program, the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (SCAQMD) Carl Moyer Program, and the California Zero-Emission School Bus and Infrastructure (ZESBI) incentive project as summarized below.
|
Item |
Qty. |
Total Cost |
EPA CHDV |
Carl Moyer |
ZESBI 1 |
ZESBI 2 |
Measure RR |
|
Zero-Emission School Bus |
79 |
$33,240,000 |
$6,000,000 |
$4,995,123 |
$6,800,000 |
$3,240,000 |
$12,204,877 |
The General Fund will be used to front-fund approximately $21.5 million of the project budget, and will be reimbursed upon receipt of the grant dollars.
The purchase of 79 electric school buses will facilitate the replacement of an equivalent number of diesel buses within the existing fleet that are approaching the end of their useful life. The current cost to maintain and fuel each diesel bus is approximately $32,000 annually, totaling $2,528,000 for 79 buses. By comparison, the cost to maintain and power each electric bus is approximately $6,500 annually, or $513,500 for 79 buses. The transition from diesel to electric buses is projected to reduce annual operating costs supported by the General Fund by approximately $2,014,500. A portion of these anticipated savings will be used to support annual maintenance costs of the new EV chargers and charge management system for the San Julian Bus Yard, which is estimated to cost $300,000 per year.
Student Impact:
The purchase of 79 electric school buses will directly benefit students by enabling the District’s Transportation Services Branch (TSB) to support the timely delivery of students to and from schools. New buses have significantly fewer breakdowns, which reduces repair down times and transportation delays. The zero-emission buses will also improve student health by limiting their exposure to transportation-related air pollution. Further, the ongoing General Fund savings realized through the reduction of operational costs provide an opportunity to reinvest available funds in other initiatives that directly support student success.
Equity Impact:
|
Component |
Score |
Score Rationale |
|
Recognition |
3 |
This purchase of 79 electric school buses will support the District’s efforts to transition to 100% clean renewable energy, reducing student exposure to harmful pollutants and creating more equitable communities. This will also directly benefit students by supporting their timely transportation to and from schools as new buses have significantly fewer breakdowns. |
|
Resource Prioritization |
3 |
The new zero-emission electric school buses will benefit all students as they will contribute to improving the overall route coverage for all students in the District. Further, the General Fund savings realized through the reduction of operational costs provide an opportunity to reduce the District’s projected $1.36 billion budget deficit or reinvest available funds in other initiatives that support student success. |
|
Results |
3 |
These electric school buses will help ensure students get to school on time every day so they have the opportunity to learn. |
|
TOTAL |
9 |
|
Issues and Analysis:
The EPA Clean Heavy Duty Vehicles Program agreement provides funding under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to the Los Angeles Unified School District (Recipient) to replace in-use, non-zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles with new zero-emission vehicles to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in EPA Region 9. Pursuant to grant terms, recipients must:
• Replace numerous eligible vehicles with comparable, eligible zero-emission vehicles under the School Bus Sub-Program, resulting in cleaner air and improved health for communities in Los Angeles, California.
• Agree to carry out the project in accordance with the final approved workplan.
• Report deviations from budget or project scope or objective and must request prior written approval from the EPA.
• Submit quarterly performance reports, including subaward monitoring activities, providing a comparison of actual accomplishments to the outputs/outcomes established, reasons why any established outputs/outcomes were not met, and additional pertinent information, analysis and explanation of cost overruns or higher-than-expected unit costs.
• Recipients are also required to submit a combined eligibility and scrappage statement with the Reporting Template for the period(s) in which vehicles are scrapped.
Attachments:
Exhibit A - BOC Resolution
Exhibit B - Presentation to the BOC
Submitted:
04/29/26
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, APPROVED BY:
______________________________ _____________________________
ANDRÉS E. CHAIT PEDRO SALCIDO
Acting Superintendent Deputy Superintendent
Business Services and Operations
APPROVED BY: APPROVED & PRESENTED BY:
______________________________ ______________________________
JAIME TORRENS DANIEL KANG
Senior Advisor to the Superintendent Director
Office of the Superintendent Transportation Services
REVIEWED BY: APPROVED & PRESENTED BY:
______________________________ ______________________________
DEVORA NAVERA REED CHRISTOS CHRYSILIOU
General Counsel Chief Eco-Sustainability Officer
Eco-Sustainability Office
___ Approved as to form.
REVIEWED BY:
______________________________
KURT E. JOHN
Deputy Chief Financial Officer
___ Approved as to budget impact statement.