With the new ART Operations and Maintenance Facility, designed for battery electric buses (BEBs), moving toward completion in 2025, Arlington should commit to purchasing these buses for all new buses. With short routes, a small area, temperate climate, and steady improvements in battery technology, Arlington is well suited for these buses. Yet, the Arlington County Government is proposing to continue to purchase methane-fueled buses through 2028 while testing a few BEBs currently on order and pursuing an expensive and unnecessary pilot of hydrogen-powered buses.
Locally and nationally, bus operators are making the shift to BEBs, including WMATA, Alexandria, DC, Fairfax County, and Montgomery County. With Arlington already meeting 100 percent of electricity for county operations with renewable electricity, a transition to BEBs will have zero carbon emissions. With this technology already moving beyond the early adopter stage, gradual integration of these buses into the ART fleet can be done seamlessly with no impact on service. Available state and local grant funds will cover most or all of additional upfront costs. BEBs are quieter and will reduce unhealthy pollutants that most affect vulnerable populations. BEBs can lead the way for broader action to decarbonize transportation with more convenient and frequent transit and multimodal options to lure more community members away from single-occupancy vehicles.
The County Board will be making a crucial decision at its January 20 or 23 meeting that will determine how and how quickly Arlington moves to transition the ART fleet to clean, zero emission buses. We encourage you to send a letter to County Board members at countyboard@arlingtonva.us (see link and sample letter below) asking them to commit to purchasing BEBs for all future ART buses. Adding your personal perspective and concerns will amplify your advocacy.
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SAMPLE LETTER
Dear Chair Garvey and County Board Members
I urge you to commit to purchasing only clean battery electric buses for all future ART buses. BEBs are the bus of choice locally and nationally for transit operators making the move to zero emission buses. With the new ART Operation and Maintenance Facility on the horizon and designed for BEBs, our small size and temperate climate, and steady improvements in technology and reliability, Arlington is well positioned to start this transition. Fuel-cell electric buses in contrast are expensive, unnecessary for Arlington’s needs, and distribution networks for green hydrogen to fuel them are currently nonexistent.
Addressing the climate crisis and achieving the County’s goal for carbon neutrality require that the County Board and Government seek every opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The shift to quieter and cleaner buses will improve rider experience, air quality and health of residents that rely on ART for their transportation needs. Please make BEBs a starting point for more ambitious efforts to provide more convenient, reliably and frequent transit and multimodal options for residents to meet Arlington’s climate and equity goals.
Sincerely,
NAME
ADDRESS
E-MAIL or phone number
This content originally appeared in The EcoAdvocate newsletter produced by the EcoAction Arlington Advocacy Committee.
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