Sustainability & Zero Emission Program
In the Bay Area, more air pollution comes from motor vehicles than from any other source. Every time someone takes public transit instead of a car, we can all breathe a little easier. By carrying over 50 million riders per year, AC Transit helps keep thousands of cars off the roads and their resulting pollution out of the air.
AC Transit’s Strategic Plan includes the core value Environmental Sustainability to create a culture of environmental stewardship through the use of technologies, procedures, and policies that reduce the environmental impact of District operations and contribute to AC Transit, regional, state, and federal sustainability goals while supporting environmental justice in the communities most affected by the District’s decisions. Further, the Strategic Plan includes a goal centered around Environmental Improvement with the following transformational and functional objectives:
- Shift trips in the AC Transit service area from single occupant motor vehicles to environmentally sustainable transportation modes, especially transit
- Replace internal combustion engine buses with zero emission vehicles when feasible
- Reduce AC Transit employee vehicle emissions
- Adhere to all regulatory compliance requirements
- Build environmental improvement into District processes and projects
- Upgrade and rehab operating facilities
- Reduce AC Transit’s vehicle emissions
The two primary programs: Sustainability (focused on business operations) and Zero Emissions (focused on fleet conversion), are integral to supporting the implementation of the Strategic Plan.
Sustainability at AC Transit
AC Transit developed a comprehensive Climate Action and Sustainability Plan (2023), which provides a framework with goals, targets, and actions. This plan is focused on the environment (planet), community (people), and leadership (administration & guidance).
AC Transit is a signatory of the APTA Sustainability Commitment, participant in the FTA's Sustainable Transit for a Healthy Planet Challenge, and shares its annual greenhouse gas inventory through The Climate Registry.
Zero Emission Program
Since 1999, AC Transit has been committed to exploring conversion to zero emission technologies--first with hydrogen and now battery-powered buses.
AC Transit is moving from vision to reality and is actively converting one of the largest bus fleets in California to 100% clean fuels. By the end of 2023, 10% of fleet is zero emission clean air buses. By 2040, 100% of fleet will be zero emission buses.