California Statewide Transit Agency Deployment Toolkit
Transit agencies across California are planning for and implementing zero-emission bus (ZEB) deployments in response to regulatory requirements, climate goals, and changing operational needs. While ZEB technologies offer significant environmental and public health benefits, they also come with new planning, procurement, infrastructure, and operational considerations that differ from conventional bus deployments. A successful transition and deployment begin with an understanding of ZEB technology and its impact on operations, as well as early coordination across agency stakeholders.
The California Statewide Transit Agency Deployment Toolkit, created by the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) in partnership with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), is designed to provide agencies with both technical context and practical guidance to support successful zero-emission bus (ZEB) deployments. While the Toolkit includes information applicable to ZEB technologies broadly, some sections focus specifically on either battery electric bus (BEB) and charging considerations, or fuel cell electric bus (FCEB) and hydrogen fueling considerations. Because FCEBs are more nascent than BEBs, more information gaps remain, which this toolkit aims to help address by providing extra resources to bridge these gaps.
Published:
May 2026
Prepared by:
The Center for Transportation and the Environment
Grace Leslie: Managing Consultant
Niki Rinaldi El-Abd: Senior Managing Consultant
Jaimie Levin: Director of West Coast Operations
Jay Woodbeck: Engineering Services Manager
Alison Smyth: Lead Engineering Consultant
Erik Bigelow: Managing Director of Engineering Services
Kate Mason: Director of Communications
Jennifer Light: Graphic Designer
Julia Schultz: Engineering Consultant
Cynthia Gibson: Lead Managing Consultant
Chloe Frank: Managing Associate
Eleanore Sammeth: Lead Managing Associate
Steve Clermont: Managing Director of Planning & Deployment
Funded by:
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
