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Montebello council hears plan to add hydrogen fuel‑cell buses, temporary fueling station planned
Summary
Montebello Bus Lines and consultants from the Center for Transportation and the Environment briefed the City Council on a phased plan to introduce hydrogen fuel‑cell buses, including procurement of three buses, temporary fueling in Q1 next year, maintenance upgrades and ongoing grant-seeking support from federal and state sources.
Montebello Bus Lines and the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) updated the City Council on a phased plan to transition the city's transit fleet to hydrogen fuel‑cell buses and to build supporting fueling and maintenance infrastructure.
CTE consultant Cynthia Gibson told the council the agency expects delivery of the first three fuel‑cell buses “in a month or so” and that a temporary fueling station is under procurement with a target of coming online in the first quarter of next year. Gibson said the project is the start of a multi‑phase effort that could result in “100% of Montebello’s fleet transitioning to hydrogen fuel cell.”
The presentation described operational benefits and early performance expectations. Gibson said, “Each fuel cell bus avoids about 52 tons of carbon dioxide annually.” She added that refueling time would be about “10 to 15 minutes” and that the buses have “a range, per fill, of a little over 300” (as stated during the presentation). CTE said it is advising on infrastructure planning, fire suppression and safety protocols and will support community outreach as station construction proceeds.
City staff and CTE said the project team has started procurement for both temporary and permanent fueling stations and will undertake maintenance‑facility upgrades. Funding for the effort includes the Federal Transit Administration’s urbanized area formula program, and CTE is assisting the city in researching and applying for additional federal and state grants.
In response to council questions, the transit director (name not stated at the hearing) said the city has been sending mechanics to trainings and has included additional training and equipment as part of the bus purchase contracts so technicians will arrive “with the necessary training and the necessary equipment” when buses are delivered.
Council members thanked staff and the consultants and emphasized climate and rider benefits. No formal council action was taken; the presentation was informational and staff said they will return with procurement and implementation updates as work proceeds.
Proposed next steps and timing provided by CTE include completion of the temporary fueling procurement (target Q1 next year), acceptance and an initial acceptance testing period for the first buses, a roughly 12‑month data collection and KPI period after acceptance, and continued work on a permanent fueling station and facility upgrades.
