Transit What's New Archive 2006

On-line database reporting for 2007 is now available for public transit agencies. The on-line reporting functions are for use by transit agencies currently subject to the Fleet Rule for Transit Agencies and are for reporting a transit agency's urban buses and transit fleet vehicles as of January 1, 2007 to ARB. Your reports are due to ARB no later than January 31, 2007.

Please address questions regarding on-line functionality to Thelma Yoosephiance at (626) 350-6407. Fleet information as of January 1, 2006 has been checked and rechecked for accuracy, but if errors are detected, please notify Thelma Yoosephiance. Address questions regarding the regulation to Doug Grandt at (916) 327-2938.

New NO2 requirements for verified Diesel Emission Control Strategies may affect what can be installed on your fleet on January 1, 2007. The Air Resources Board released MSC 06-16 and MSC 06-17 regarding the DECS compliance with the NO2 requirements that take effect January 1, 2007.

The Office of Administrative Law has approved modifications to Fleet Rule for Transit Agencies - Urban Bus Requirements as adopted by the Board pursuant to hearings held September 15, October 20 and 27, 2005. The rulemaking was filed with the Secretary of State on September 7, 2006 and will become effective October on October 7, 2006. The modifications 1) require all transit agencies in the South Coast Air Quality Management District to switch to the alternative-fuel path, 2) aligns 2007 and subsequent model-year urban bus engine emission standards with California heavy-duty truck engine emission standards, and 3) requires transit agencies on the diesel path with more than 30 urban buses that purchase 2007 through 2009 model-year urban buses that are not certified at or below 0.2 g/bhp-hr NOx emission level to meet specified conditions.

The Air Resources Board will hold training sessions on the Fleet Rule for Transit Agencies, with particular emphasis on the Transit Fleet Vehicle Requirements. The training session will be held in eight different locations throughout the state, May 25, 2006 through June 20, 2006. Transit Agencies are invited to attend these training sessions to learn more about the regulation's compliance requirements. Transit Agencies can bring a list of their transit fleet vehicles and ARB staff will assist in completing their report forms. For more information about the training sessions, dates, and locations, go to ARB mailout MSC06-07.

At the September and the October 2005 Air Resources Board (Board) hearings, the Board adopted two modifications to the Fleet Rule for Transit Agencies – Urban Bus Requirements. First, the Board modified the fuel path requirement for all transit agencies with urban buses within the South Coast Air Quality Management District to switch to the Alternative Fuel compliance path. Second, the Board aligned the 2007 and subsequent model-year urban bus engine emission standards with the equivalent model-year California heavy-duty truck engine emission standards. At the October 27, 2005 hearing, after considering the staff’s report, the Board adopted Resolution 05-61, approving the modifications previously approved with one additional modification. The modified amendments align the 2007 and subsequent model-year urban bus engine emission standards with the equivalent model-year California heavy-duty truck engine emission standards, but require diesel path transit agencies with more than 30 urban buses in their fleets that purchase 2007 through 2009 model-year urban buses with diesel engines not certified at or below 0.2 grams per brakehorse power-hour (g/bhp-hr) oxides of nitrogen (NOx) engine emission standard to meet specified conditions. The conditions require the transit agency to mitigate the NOx emissions through retrofitting an existing urban bus or transit fleet vehicle within its fleet with a level 3 diesel emission control strategy with a 40 percent NOx reduction, and if a device is not verified, a minimum of 25 percent NOx reduction, until vehicles in the agency’s fleet are retrofitted or are incapable of being retrofitted.

In accordance with section 11346.8(c) of the Government Code, the Board directed the Executive Officer to make the modified amendments and any conforming modifications to the regulation for a transit fleet rule available to the public for comment for a period of 15 days. The Board further provided that the Executive Officer shall consider such written comments as may be submitted during this period, shall make such modifications as may be appropriate in light of the comments received, and shall present the regulations to the Board for further consideration if warranted. These documents are now available for comment. Public comments must be received by May 15, 2006 at 5:00 PM.

The Office of Administrative Law has approved the February 24, 2005 rulemaking amending "Fleet Rule for Transit Agencies" to include new requirements for transit fleet vehicles and moving the regulation to title 13 California Code of Regulation Section 2023 et. seq., from section 1956.2 through 1956.4. The rulemaking was filed with the
Secretary of State January 31, 2006 and became effective the same day. For more information on the regulation, go to ARB mailout, MSC 06-03.

On February 24, 2005, the ARB adopted regulations that modified the existing Fleet Rule for Transit Agency and added new requirements for transit fleet vehicles. The Final Rulemaking Package was filed with the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) on December 19, 2005. ARB has requested an earlier effective date but OAL has until February 2, 2006 to make a determination. The final submittal package can be viewed here.