ATN utilizes state funding to order 50 electric transit vechicles

Anaheim Transportation Network (ATN) purchased 50 new electric vehicles, comprised of 40 new electric buses and 10 electric Polaris GEM cars, using state funding as it moves forward with its goal of reaching a 100 percent zero-emission fleet.

The vehicles are part of ATN's Electrify Anaheim program and were purchased using $28.9 million in grant funds from California State Transportation and the Intercity Rail Capitol Program and $6.7 million from Anaheim Tourism Improvement District.

The new electric buses will be built by BYD and range in size from the 30-foot BYD K7M to the articulated 60-foot K11M and half of the order, 20 buses, will be 40-foot BYD K9Ms. BYD explains that the variety of buses will allow ATN to efficiently service a range of routes in the Anaheim Resort™. The new bus order is expected to be completed in 2020.

“We’ve been operating four of BYD’s 40-foot K9Ms on our routes over the past two years, and based on their performance, we are confident in BYD’s quality product and their support of our efforts to electrify our fleet,” ATN Executive Director Diana Kotler said. “These new buses will provide ATN a 57 percent zero-emission fleet by 2020.”

ATN says the fleet is expected to serve 625,000 new riders by 2021, including expanded service to the Disneyland® Resort, Anaheim Convention Center and Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center.tATN also notes that The program will reduce 42,423 metric tons of CO2 emissions over the project life.

“Residents and visitors to the Anaheim area will enjoy the benefits of a quieter ride, a cleaner environment and the reliability of zero emission buses manufactured by BYD,” Bobby Hill, BYD Coach and Bus vice president said. “We’re proud to help ATN reduce the region’s carbon footprint.”

The 10 electric Polaris GEM cars will be used for ATN's FRAN microtransit system that connects popular destinations in Anaheim's Center City area. The shared vehicle service is available on-demand through FRAN's smartphone app.

ATN notes that FRAN ridership has dramatically increased in the short time period since its January 2019 launch. The number of passengers using FRAN went from 317 to 802, or a 153 percent increase, in the first six weeks following its launch, while the number of completed trips more than doubled, going from 148 to 338, an increase of more than 128 percent. The number of app downloads used to hail FRAN — RideART (Anaheim Resort Transportation) — almost doubled in the same time period, from 987 to 1,623, an increase of 64 percent.

“Our clean-energy goals and the new FRAN microtransit system are the latest extension of Anaheim’s legacy of innovation,” said Kotler. “These technological solutions help us expand mobility and grow ridership while limiting environmental impacts. They are also imaginative approaches to placemaking as they connect and enhance Anaheim’s many popular destinations.”