Lower-Emission School Bus Program

The Lower-Emission School Bus Program (LESBP) is a partnership between the California Air Resources Board (ARB) and local air districts, and is administered locally by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (Air District). The goals of the LESBP are to reduce the exposure of school children to harmful emissions of particulate matter (PM) and reduce emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC), which contribute to summertime smog.

Projects Eligible for LESBP Funding

The LESBP provides funding for the following projects: 

• the retrofit of 1987 and newer in-use diesel school buses with ARB-verified Level-3 emission control devices,
• the replacement of on-board CNG tanks on public school buses that are at least 14 years but no more than 16 years old, and
• the replacement of 1993 and older public school buses with clean school buses.

The Air District is not currently accepting applications for LESBP funding.

Who is Eligible to Receive Funding

• Bay Area public school districts that own their own school buses, including under the provisions of a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA), are eligible for ALL funding opportunities.
• School transportation companies that provide transportation services under contract to Bay Area public schools are eligible ONLY for school bus retrofit funds.
• Non-profit agencies, private schools, and other private companies are NOT eligible for LESBP funding.

Schedule for Completion of Retrofit and CNG Tank Replacement Projects

• March 15, 2013                                     Last day to submit a grant application
• Within 6 months of contract execution     All work completed and bus returned to service
• Within 8 months of contract execution     Deadline for submission of payment request

Schedule for Completion of School Bus Replacement Projects

• March 15, 2013          Last day to submit a grant application
• April 1, 2014              Deadline to received replacement buses
• May 15, 2014             Deadline for submission of payment request
• June 30, 2014             Replacement buses and any associated infrastructure paid

School Bus Regulatory Information

Diesel-fueled school buses with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating over 14,000 pounds are subject to ARB’s Truck and Bus regulation. It is the school bus owner’s responsibility to understand the requirements of the ARB regulation and how the regulation affects their fleet.  The awarding of a LESBP grant in no way extends any regulatory compliance deadline.

• ARB Truck and Bus Regulation - additional information about the regulation is also available by calling ARB’s Diesel Hotline at (866) 6DIESEL (866-634-3735).
• School Bus ARB Regulation fact sheet
• ARB school bus idling regulation

Useful Links and Information:

• ARB LESBP homepage 
• ARB’s 2008 LESBP Guidelines and Advisories 

Additional Information

About the funding source: Mobile Source Incentive Fund

Contact

For more information, please contact Deepti Jain,  Environmental Planner I, (415) 749-5075