Bus riders can expect a quieter commute with zero-emissions buses this year as the Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District plans to roll out nine, 40-foot-long electric buses to replace aging ones that run on diesel.

The rollout is part of a 2018 goal from the Santa Barbara MTD Board of Directors to have 100% of the agency’s buses produce zero emissions by 2030. 

“While MTD has had battery-electric buses in its fleet since 1991, these nine buses are MTD’s first full-sized, 40-foot electric buses,” Hillary Blackerby, planning and marketing manager for MTD, told Noozhawk. “This is a big step towards a fully zero-emission fleet, and this transition will reduce GHG emissions and impacts on public health.”

Despite the size, each bus will take only four hours to charge. According to Blackerby, riders will experience a quieter ride but otherwise won’t notice a change in their commute.

The total cost of the nine buses is $9.8 million.

Funding for the buses comes from the Federal Bus and Bus Facility Funds and State of CA Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program, Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Program funds, VW Mitigation Trust funds and other state funds, according to Blackerby.

MTD also has hired two bus operators and training is underway. However, according to Blackerby, there is still a shortage of operators that MTD hopes to fill in order to eventually increase the number of bus routes.

One new bus operator started Jan. 30, and another candidate accepted MTD’s offer of employment and is completing the pre-employment process, according to MTD.

“MTD continues to aggressively recruit, hire and train bus operators,” Blackerby said. “Despite some recent success, there is still a shortage of operators that MTD is working to fill in order for service levels to be increased in the future.”