Santa Monica has broken ground on a $56 million zero-emission fleet and charging infrastructure project, marking a significant step toward fully electrifying its Big Blue Bus system by 2032.
Led by the city’s Department of Transportation, the investment will fund the expansion of battery-electric buses alongside the installation of overhead gantry charging systems capable of supporting up to 195 vehicles. The project is largely backed by a $53.3 million grant from California’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program.
City officials framed the initiative as both an infrastructure upgrade and an operational shift. “This project represents more than an infrastructure investment — it’s a transformation of how we deliver transit service,” said Anuj Gupta, director of the Santa Monica Department of Transportation.
The agency currently operates 34 battery-electric buses, with additional vehicles planned as charging infrastructure is built out. Once complete, the system is expected to support a fully zero-emission fleet, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality across the communities the network serves.
Beyond emissions reductions, the project is also positioned as a long-term operational investment. Officials highlighted expected reductions in fuel and maintenance costs, along with improved system resilience enabled by modernized charging infrastructure.
Local leaders also emphasized broader economic and workforce impacts, noting that construction, engineering, and electrical work tied to the project will support job creation and training in clean transportation technologies.
Mayor Caroline Torosis pointed to the systemwide implications of the transition. “This systemwide move to cleaner transit is something for our city and residents to be proud of,” she said, adding that reliable and accessible transit can drive higher ridership and broader sustainability gains.
