PHX Reporter

The Phoenix City Council has voted to transition the city's heavy-duty bus fleet to zero-emission vehicles by 2040, also voting to allow buses to start carrying updated technology in the first quarter of 2023.

“Phoenix is charting an ambitious timeline. At this rate, low-and zero-emission buses will make up a third of our fleet in the next five years,” Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said in a release from the city.

With a 24-month production timeline, some of these new buses will be operational by 2025, the city stated.

“Reducing pollution on our roadways is crucial for our region’s air quality, and this effort must be matched with rapid decarbonization of the electric grid that powers these vehicles," Gallego explained. "Demonstrating success in our geography and climate will serve as a powerful model for communities across the country.”

Part of the infrastructure for the new buses is funded by a $16.3-million grant for low- and no-emissions buses and supporting infrastructure the city's Public Transit Department received in August from the Federal Transit Administration.

“This week’s votes show just how far we’ve come as a city in the past year when it comes to clean transportation," Councilwoman Yassamin Ansari in the release. "A year ago, council was presented with a contract that did not consider low - or zero-emission options. This week, we passed one of the strongest zero emission transition plans in the country.”

Public Transit Director Jesús Sapien said the new buses will be crucial to the local transit system.

“We’re excited to put these newer buses into our system and begin transitioning our fleet,” he said. “The region’s bus routes are the backbone of the transit system and adding these newer technology buses to the fleet will help us achieve our long-term goals for Phoenix and for the region.”