Program: California State Transportation Agency’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program
Grantee: Humboldt Transit Authority
Funding amount: $23.5 million
County: Humboldt, Mendocino
The Humboldt Transit Authority (HTA) is kick-starting the transition to a zero-emission fleet with $23.5 million in California Climate Investment funding through the California State Transportation Agency’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP). Senate Bill 1 funded an additional $15.2 million through TIRCP to support the project. With this funding, Humboldt Transit Authority will procure eleven fuel cell electric buses for use on multiple intercity routes.
Hydriogen Fueling Station
HTA will also construct a hydrogen fueling station for Humboldt Transit Authority’s facility in Eureka. The northern-most fueling station planned in California, this station will support both bus and passenger car fueling and include a public dispenser for light and medium-duty vehicles. Expected fleet operator users include the City of Eureka, Humboldt County, Caltrans, and UPS. Project partners Air Products and the Schatz Center will build and maintain the station. Upgraded maintenance bays at the HTA facility will also support the Fuel Cell Electric Buses. This station will both support Governor Newsom’s target of 200 hydrogen stations by 2026 and will help establish a robust hydrogen fueling network and supply chain on the North Coast.
Expanded Transit service supported by the project
In addition to laying the foundation for a zero-emission transit fleet, this project also creates a new intercity transit service, the Redwood Coast Express. This service will connect local riders from Eureka to Ukiah linking riders to Mendocino County and south to the SMART train and the San Francisco Bay Area with fuel cell electric buses.
Natalie Arroyo, Humboldt Transit Authority Board Chair, reflected, “This project is incredibly exciting for HTA - I could not be more proud of our team’s work and this opportunity for innovation. It’s truly a cutting-edge project to reduce emissions throughout our region while providing reliable service and support to more than 600,000 riders every year.”
HTA worked closely with bus manufacturer New Flyer of America, Inc. to develop specifications for an extended range fuel cell electric bus that will meet HTA’s demanding routes. HTA will be replacing the entire fleet of the Redwood Transit System with these new buses, and fleet maintenance facilities will also be upgraded to support the new buses.
This project will also support the construction of a new intermodal transit center in downtown Eureka that will be integrated with affordable housing and commercial space. The Eureka Regional Transit and Housing Center (EaRTH Center) will combine local and intercity fixed route services with on-demand, taxi, bike and scooter share, and paratransit services all centralized in Eureka’s Old Town district. This project is expected to contribute significantly to increasing transit ridership and decreasing vehicle miles traveled, two key targets in Humboldt County’s Regional Transportation Plan.
The Eureka Regional Transit and Housing Center (EaRTH Center)