Planning Zero-emission Bus Transition with Community

The session will highlight considerations in planning for the transition to zero-emission buses along with the role the community can have in the planning process. Metro Transit acquired its first zero-emission buses in 2019 for use on the METRO C Line from Minneapolis to Brooklyn Center. Vocal advocates pushing for an accelerated transition led to the MN Legislature requiring the development of a transition plan. The first plan, which will be updated every five years, was developed and submitted to the Legislature in 2022. Input from the community led to the development of an Equity and Environmental Justice principle, which along with Technical Viability and Fiscal Impact, guide Metro Transit’s transition to zero-emission technology. The approach is methodological to help ensure that communities at risk to climate change benefit from the transition and that the transition minimizes burdening these communities during implementation. The approach creates an opportunity for Metro Transit to learn from different manufacturers and operational uses (BRT, local route). Through continuous engagement the community and advocates are kept engaged by presenting pilot project results and lessons learned. We will engage the audience to complete the same equity and environmental justice rating activity we asked community members to complete.

Access this session with closed captions (Wordly)