Working on behalf of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) and in joint venture with STV, WSP is creating an analysis of Metro’s network of 165 bus and bus rapid transit routes and 12 maintenance facilities, making recommendations for the procurement of a new bus fleet, and identifying modifications at facilities necessary to support the fleet.

“The master plan will provide a year-by-year schedule that will help Metro achieve a 100-percent zero-emissions bus fleet by their target of 2030,” said Cliff Henke, senior program manager for WSP.

It is the largest such commitment to a zero emissions bus (ZEB) fleet in the U.S., and one of the largest in the world.

“Metro has set a very ambitious schedule, as they will have to procure and deliver about 240-250 buses per year in order to meet their goal,” Henke said. “We are also looking at training, safety planning, disaster planning and cyber security for the bus fleet.”

The 29-month project started in October. The joint venture arrangement combines the resources and expertise of WSP and STV, two firms with extensive experience delivering large transportation projects in Los Angeles County and an understanding of this rapidly growing technology.

“The data we gather for this plan will account for a lot of variables, including climate, elevation, length of routes and stops,” Henke said. “The real-world data collected from buses today will be used to predict how the zero emissions buses will do on those routes in different conditions.”