San Jose, Calif. — The new Zero-Emission Bus (ZEB) is on a route near you!   Hydrogen power is taking a step closer to becoming a viable fuel source for the public transportation industry.   Through the month of May, passengers can ride VTA’s new hydrogen-powered ZEB on VTA Bus Lines 33 and 46. 

The ZEB will operate as extra service and run weekdays from approximately 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.   VTA Bus Line 33 serves Baypointe Light Rail Station to Great Mall/Main Transit Center via McCarthy Ranch in Milpitas and VTA Bus Line 46 serves the Great Mall/Main Transit Center to Washington Drive/Escuela Parkway in Milpitas.   

The Zero-Emission Bus (ZEB) emits no harmful pollutants into the air. The bus is powered by a fuel-cell that converts hydrogen gas and oxygen into electricity to power the bus.

ZEBs are low-floor, 40-foot buses that have standard equipment, including air conditioning, ramps for disabled accessibility, destination signs, and audio systems, which are all powered by electricity generated by the fuel-cell. 

As part of the VTA/SamTrans joint trial program, three ZEBs will be rotated monthly to different routes throughout the system over the next two years.

2000 Measure A

The 2000 Measure A package of transit improvements was approved by Santa Clara County voters in November 2000 by a 70.3% majority and authorized a 30-year, 1/2 cent sales tax to begin in 2006.   Measure A supports the Valley Transportation Plan (VTP) and Expenditure Program, a long-range transportation planning effort focused on addressing the Valley’s transportation needs.   VTP provides a balanced transportation system consisting of transit, roadway, bicycle, and pedestrian improvements.  The revenue from Measure A enables approximately $2 billion in future state and federal funds to be directed towards these projects. The Zero-Emission Bus Demonstration Program is one of the 2000 Measure A projects.

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About VTA
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is an independent special district responsible for bus, light rail and paratransit operations; congestion management; specific highway improvement projects; and countywide transportation planning. As such, VTA is both an accessible transit provider and multi-modal transportation planning organization involved with transit, highways and roadways, bikeways and pedestrian facilities.

For more information about VTA services, call VTA Customer Service at (408) 321-2300, (408) 321-2330 (TDD only). Or, log on to www.vta.org.