Los Angeles district awarded grant for 40 CNG school buses

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LAUSD) transportation branch received funding from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) for 40 compressed natural gas (CNG) school buses.

Once the district purchases the buses, it will have a fleet of 173 CNG-powered school buses — reportedly the largest in the state.

The grant will also help bolster the district’s Healthy Breathing Initiative, which was adopted by the LAUSD Board of Education in 2003. As part of this initiative, LAUSD will only accept bids to purchase or contract school buses powered by alternative fuels or that meet strict emission standards.

South Coast AQMD is expected to award LAUSD an additional $9.1 million later this year to purchase 60 more CNG buses and CNG fueling infrastructure.