November 17, 1995

South Coast Air Quality

Management District

Background

The mobile source element of the Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) is largely based on the Air Resources Board's (ARB) Low Emission Vehicle and Clean Fuels program. The AQMP calls for progressively greater Basin penetrations of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), which are the cleanest vehicles embodied in ARB's regulations. Automobile manufacturers are likely to meet ZEV requirements by producing battery-powered electric vehicles (EVs), at least until fuel cell vehicles become commercially viable.

The Environmental Technology Initiative (ETI) program, administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region IX, is a program to accelerate environmental protection, strengthen America's industrial base, and increase exports of U.S. technologies and expertise. The AQMD, in conjunction with CALSTART, submitted a proposal for funding under the ETI program to demonstrate electric station car technology within the South Coast Air District. As a result, the EPA awarded and reserved $250,000 in Fiscal Year 1995 ETI grant funds for the AQMD to develop and deploy electric station cars in the Lancaster and San Bernardino areas.

Proposal

CALSTART's electric station car and corridor shuttle project introduces ZEV technology to promote ridership on the regional rail systems and modal shifts for commuters and midday travelers. One of the project's goals is to demonstrate an application of ZEV technology that is integral to multi-modal transportation needs of Southern Californians.

CALSTART's project is a cooperative effort among four private and public entities: CALSTART, a non-profit consortium of advanced transportation organizations; Omnitrans, the public transit joint powers authority serving the San Bernardino Valley; the City of Lancaster, located in northern Los Angeles County; and Southern California Edison (SCE), the nation's second largest private electric utility.

A total of fifteen light-duty electric vehicles will be purchased and deployed in Lancaster and in the Montclair/San Bernardino areas. These vehicles will be full service "station cars" (2- and 4-passenger vehicles) for use by morning and evening rail commuters and City of Lancaster and Omnitrans staff during the day. Two 22-foot electric shuttle buses will be purchased and placed into service on a rail feeder and commercial district corridor route in San Bernardino.

The City of Lancaster plans to use the station cars during the mid-day hours for regular local travel, such as meter reading, service calls, and other trips required by City employees. Omnitrans will use the station cars for driver-relief and shift change trips, between their service yard and the transit stations. The electric shuttles will operate in a highly-traveled corridor in the commercial districts in San Bernardino, linking downtown San Bernardino with the Tri-City Corporate Center and the Inland Center Mall. The electric shuttles will accommodate daytime shopping trips, lunch excursions and transportation for other needs in the San Bernardino corridor.

CALSTART, Omnitrans, the City of Lancaster, and SCE will work with Metrolink to target and attract likely station car users and corridor shuttle riders, through research, outreach, and public awareness campaigns. SCE will assist with these campaigns by publicizing the program among its large workforce, which is distributed throughout the Southern California region. SCE will incorporate the station car program publicity effort into its existing rideshare/transit TCM program, providing additional incentives for its employees to avoid single-occupancy trips in internal combustion engine-powered vehicles.

Sole-Source Justification

Section II, Step C(3) of the Consultant Selection Policy and Procedure identifies four provisions under which a sole-source bid may be justified: (1) cost to prepare documents exceeds cost for consultant, (2) delay would result in the endangerment of public health, (3) services are only available from sole-source, (4) other circumstances exist identifying sole-source as in the best interests of the AQMD.

This request for sole-source award is made under provision #4. It is in the AQMD's best interests to accept the EPA funds and complete the electric station car and corridor shuttle project. By accepting the funds to complete this comprehensive, multi-agency project, the AQMD will take full advantage of the unique combination of experience, facilities, and participants gained during the project and will be able to provide fleets in the Basin with the most comprehensive information on the operation of electric station cars.

CALSTART is a unique consortium of private companies and government agencies united to develop advanced transportation technologies for manufacture within California. Omnitrans operates a fleet of 130 buses and 88 vans, serving almost 7.5 million passengers annually. The City of Lancaster was recently designated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) as a "Clean City" and has developed a comprehensive plan to convert its vehicle fleet to clean fuels by 2010. SCE is the nation's second largest electric utility, has one of the nation's best established electric transportation programs, and is a leader in innovative EV technology testing and deployment.

Financial Terms

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region IX, through its FY-1995 Environmental Technology Initiative (ETI) grant funds, awarded $250,000 to the AQMD to co-fund this project. The funding breakdown for this $1,446,000 project is as follows:

                 Agency                               Direct               

EPA's 1995 ETI grant                                 $250,000              

AB 2766 1994-95 Discretionary Fund                   $200,000              
grant                                                                      

FTA* Section 3 1995 grant                            $700,000              

Omnitrans Local Transportation Funds                 $150,000              

City of Lancaster AB2766 Subvention                   $40,000              
Funds                                                                      

Southern California Edison                            $56,000              

CALSTART                                              $50,000              

TOTAL                              $1,446,000             

*FTA - Federal Transit Administration

In compliance with Health and Safety Code Section 40720(j), the public has been provided with a 30-day notice of the AQMD's intention to supplement its budget with these EPA funds. Staff recommends that upon receipt of these funds, the Board recognize and appropriate the $250,000 in EPA funding to the FY 1995-96 Technology Advancement budget and approve the contract with CALSTART.

With Board recognition and appropriation of the EPA 105 grant, sufficient funds are available in the Fiscal Year 1995-96 Budget of the Technology Advancement to fund this project. This project was presented to and approved by the Technology Committee on October 11, 1995. This project was also presented to and approved by the Administrative Committee October 27, 1995.

THEREFORE IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOUR BOARD

--Recognize $250,000 in revenue based on the award of the cooperative agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency.

--Appropriate $250,000 from the undesignated fund balance to the Technology Advancement Services and Supplies Major Object Professional and Special Services Account.

--Authorize the Chairman to execute an amended agreement with CALSTART to demonstrate electric station cars and electric shuttle buses in an amount not to exceed $250,000.

Respectfully,

James M. Lents, Ph.D.

Executive Officer

ACL:ARA:MXB:KD