Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, Zero Emission Bus Program Management Services

Burns provides expert consulting to advance and scale up fleet electrification, assisting one of the country’s largest multifunctional transportation agencies achieve its ambitious zero-emissions goals.

As part of a commitment to create a cleaner, safer, more environmentally friendly and efficient transportation network, RTC is undertaking an aggressive fleet-replacement strategy and long-range facilities master plan. By 2035, RTC plans to convert all transit service maintenance facilities and transit terminals to accommodate 100-percent zero-emission fleets.

In support of the increased investment in transit capital assets, Burns provides strategic planning, analysis, report development, and related services. Acting as a program manager, Burns delivered across a wide range of ZEB transition-management services:

• Aligning stakeholders, including electric utilities, to coordinate strategies for charging battery electric buses (BEBs) and hydrogen fuel cell buses (HFCBs) vehicles — either at RTC maintenance depots or along service routes.
• Securing vehicle-acquisition and capital-improvement funds, including a $3.8-million Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Low or No Emission Vehicle Program grant, for initial introduction of fixed-route, “pilot” HFCBs and related fueling infrastructure.
• Evaluating and recommending electric vehicle charging technologies, such as overhead pantograph chargers and induction chargers, and associated scaling protocols.
• Developing preliminary cost estimates and schedules.
• Assisting in establishment of design parameters for new charging stations and supporting electrical infrastructure.

Photo courtesy of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada.