Foothill Transit is moving forward with its transition to alternative fuel based transportation through the construction of a second hydrogen fueling station. Clean Energy Fuels Corp. has been awarded the $11.3 million contract to design, build, and maintain the new site, continuing a partnership that spans more than two decades.
The new hydrogen station will be located at Foothill Transit’s Arcadia bus yard on North Santa Anita Avenue, which currently serves as the fueling hub for the agency’s renewable natural gas bus fleet. An initial order of 19 hydrogen fuel cell buses will be based at the Arcadia site once construction is complete.
Partnership and expansion in San Gabriel Valley
Foothill Transit, which carries more than 11 million customers annually across the San Gabriel Valley, Pomona Valley, and downtown Los Angeles, has been expanding its low-emission fleet for over a decade. Its first hydrogen fueling station opened in Pomona in 2023 and supports 33 zero-emission buses. Clean Energy Fuels designed and continues to operate that Pomona site, which has become a cornerstone of the agency’s sustainability plan.
The Arcadia station will complement that effort by adding capacity and providing operational flexibility as hydrogen bus service expands. The project will be partially funded through federal and state grants dedicated to clean transportation initiatives.
Building toward a zero-emission future
Hydrogen fuel cell buses allow Foothill Transit to serve longer routes without the extended charging times required by traditional battery-electric buses. The new Arcadia station will store liquid hydrogen and dispense it in gaseous form, ensuring that vehicles can be quickly refueled to return to service.
Design work for the facility is underway, with construction scheduled to begin in mid-2026. When complete, the Arcadia fueling depot will position Foothill Transit as one of the region’s largest operators of hydrogen fuel cell buses.
As California transit agencies continue to adopt clean energy technologies, Foothill Transit remains a leader in the shift toward zero-emission fleets. More information about Foothill Transit’s sustainability efforts can be found at foothilltransit.org.
