Electric buses coming to Placer County

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Placer County, CA – Electric buses will be purchased and operating within the next three years to serve residents in eastern Placer as part of an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide more achievable housing.

During last week’s meeting, the Placer County Board of Supervisors accepted nearly $3.6 million in grant funds from Neighborhood Partners, LLC in exchange for implementing transit and trail improvements. The transportation improvements will be completed by the county to support Meadow View Place in Martis Valley, a 56-unit housing project.

The county’s commitment to complete transit and trail improvements helps Neighborhood Partners, LLC meet the required greenhouse gas emission reductions needed to receive California Department of Housing and Community Development funding through the Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure grant. The developer was awarded approximately $16.2 million to subsidize the housing project and surrounding infrastructure.

The STI grant funds will allow the county to purchase four battery powered buses for Tahoe Truckee Area Regional Transit, including battery charging infrastructure and maintenance equipment. Placer County Public Works Deputy Director Will Garner says the electric buses will be used to support the expansion of TART service.

Martis Valley bicycle facilities

“Projects like this add value to the community on several levels,” said Garner. “Not only is there progress to provide badly needed workforce housing but we are also taking steps to reduce emissions which ultimately improves the region’s air quality and Lake Tahoe’s water clarity. Additionally, the county plans to install bicycle facilities around Martis Valley to encourage residents and visitors to use the surrounding trail segments.”

Both the transit and trail projects have multiple sources of funding but the STI grant is expected to meet almost all of the funding needs for the electric bus project. The county also received $200,000 from the California Low Carbon Transit fund which will be used to help cover the cost of installing charging infrastructure.