Big Blue Bus Charging Infrastructure breaks ground in Santa Monica

The City of Santa Monica, California has broken ground on a new battery electric bus charging system at the Big Blue Bus facility. The project will provide charging infrastructure for 130 buses as Big Blue Bus transitions to a 100 percent zero-emission fleet by 2031. Adding to 20 previously installed charging stations installed by Stantec, it will greatly expand the city’s potential to charge its growing electric fleet for years to come. Stantec is providing fully integrated zero-emission bus planning, facility master planning, and architecture and engineering services to support the transition.

Stantec has partnered with Big Blue Bus for over 25 years on facility improvements to their Santa Monica campus. This charging infrastructure project is the latest in a long string of large-scale collaborative projects aimed at sustainably improving public transit options for Santa Monica and Los Angeles County residents.

The Big Blue Bus fleet composition will evolve over time with both natural gas-powered buses and electric buses in service simultaneously. A phased approach provides flexibility for the transit agency and significantly reduces its environmental footprint with the goal of full conversion to zero emissions by 2031— nine years ahead of California’s statewide mandate.

The project is scheduled for completion in 2027.