SARTA Kicks Off Zero-Emission Bus Tour Through California

As part of the tour, one of the transit authority’s hydrogen fuel cell-powered buses will be loaded on a trailer and driven cross-country where it will make a 10-day swing through the Golden State.

by METRO Staff

May 28, 2021

SARTA Kicks Off Zero-Emission Bus Tour Through California — Since making its first trip to the Central Midlands Transit Authority in Columbia, South Carolina, in 2019, the Borrow a Bus Zero Emission Tour has visited Washington, D.C., Virginia, Illinois, Oregon, Washington, Florida, Michigan, and New Jersey.
Credit:
SARTA

2 min to read

After being sidelined by the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020, Ohio’s Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) kicked off its Borrow A Bus (BaB) Zero Emission Tour on May 28.

As part of the tour, one of the transit authority’s hydrogen fuel cell-powered (HFC) buses will be loaded on a trailer and driven cross-country to California where it will make a 10-day swing through the Golden State. The bus will be fueled by the NICE America mobile submerged pump system, which is currently being tested at SARTA’s 1600 Gateway Blvd. headquarters complex in Canton, Ohio.

“We’re eager to restart BaB because the promotion enables us to make HFC’s part of the discussion about the future of zero-emission transportation that has, to this point, been dominated by the plug-in electric sector,” said SARTA CEO Kirt Conrad.

“Being on the road gives us the opportunity to share the vast amount of data we’ve accumulated and practical experience we’ve gained by operating our HFC fleet on the streets and highways of Stark County in every imaginable type of weather over the past ten years,” he explained. “As a result, we can demonstrate conclusively to transit and government officials that HFC buses offer the range, reliability, and affordability that makes this technology the best zero-emission solution in the transportation space.”

Since making its first trip to the Central Midlands Transit Authority in Columbia, South Carolina, in 2019, the BaB tour has visited Washington, D.C.; Alexandria, Virginia; Chicago, Portland, Oregon; Seattle; Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, and Orlando, Florida; Lansing, Michigan; and New Brunswick, New Jersey.

In 2020, SARTA received the prestigious Calstart Blue Sky Award for BaB.

The California swing will begin on June 1 and includes stops in Riverside, West Covina, Hesperia, San Luis Obispo, Stockton, Modesto, San Francisco, Alameda, Sacramento, and Redding where it will be demoed for transit and government officials by Conrad and representatives of El Dorado National, the company that manufactured the HFC bus that is being showcased. The bus will be transported back to Canton on June 6.

A detailed schedule and day-by-day recap of the BaB tour will be posted on SARTA’s Facebook page and website.

Topics:Zero-Emissions Vehicles hydrogen fuel-cell buses SARTA Sustainability El Dorado National Bus Zero Emissions

More Zero Emissions

Opening art for Sustabinability Partners Q&A

Zero Emissions•by Alex Roman•March 25, 2026

Inside EVaaS: A New Model for Airport Fleet Electrification

Sustainability Partners’ Arnold Albiar discusses how a service-based approach is helping airports and public agencies deploy and manage electric fleets more efficiently.

Rows of MTA's Long Island Railroad (LIRR) commuter rail cars.

Zero Emissions•by Staff and News Reports•March 13, 2026

New York Awards $4.5M for Zero-Emission Microtransit and Bike Access Projects

NYSERDA funding will support electric microtransit and secure bike storage to improve first- and last-mile connections across downstate New York.

Bus•by Alex Roman•March 13, 2026

Inside The Bus Coalition’s Push for Stronger Federal Transit Investment

In this conversation, TBC’s Executive Director Ed Redfern, President Corey Aldridge, and Washington Representative Joel Rubin outline the coalition’s key policy priorities, the challenges facing transit agencies, and how industry stakeholders can work together to strengthen the voice of bus transit at the federal level.

Zero Emissions•by Alex Roman•March 10, 2026

U.S. Zero-Emission Bus Adoption Surpasses 8,000 Vehicles

CALSTART’s latest Zeroing in on ZEBs report shows continued nationwide growth despite supply-chain challenges. The group’s Deputy Director of Transit, Mike Hynes, talked to METRO about how agencies are adapting procurement strategies, fleet plans, and more.

Zero Emissions•March 9, 2026

California’s Push Against Federal Headwinds to Reach 100% Zero-Emission Transit Goals

Even amid shifts in federal funding, California continues to advance its zero-emission agenda, enforcing and funding its regulatory framework despite federal obstacles.

Zero Emissions•by Alex Roman•March 4, 2026

BetterFleet’s Dan Hilson on the Mountain Line Contract and Intelligent Charge Management

Mountain Line selected BetterFleet’s charge-management and fleet-operations platform to support its nearly all-electric bus fleet and future electrification plans.

A white Chesco Connect paratransit bus parked outside.

Zero Emissions•by Elora Haynes•February 9, 2026

Why Chester County Chose Propane To Power Its Demand-Response Transit Fleet

See how the county’s Chesco Connect system is replacing its buses with propane autogas to cut costs, reduce emissions, and support high-demand paratransit operations.

King County Metro electric buses made by GILLIG.

Bus•by Staff•January 30, 2026

Seattle's King County Metro Introduces New Battery-Electric Buses

Rolling out in electric yellow and seafoam blue, the first battery-electric buses purchased from GILLIG will begin serving riders in south King County on February 2.

A black, white, and light purple graphic with an image of a BAE Systems hybrid electric bus and text reading "Re-Examining Hybrid Buses in Transit."

Zero Emissions•by Elora Haynes•January 19, 2026

Why Some Transit Agencies Are Re-Examining Hybrid Buses

As zero-emission goals advance, hybrid buses remain part of fleet strategies, offering reliability and operational flexibility.

Zero Emissions•by Staff•January 14, 2026

California's VVTA Unveils Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses, Fueling Station, and Brand Refresh

The introduction of hydrogen fuel cell buses represents a significant step forward in reducing emissions while maintaining reliable, high-quality transit service.

View All →