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Long Beach, CA – Long Beach Transit (LBT) was recognized for the Bus Transit Project of the Year award at the 36th Annual California Transportation Foundation (CTF) Transportation Awards Gala, held on June 12, 2025. The CTF Awards Gala recognized over 20 outstanding transportation projects across California and brought together leaders who are directing impactful projects and improving California’s transportation sector.
The award recognizes LBT’s continued innovation and leadership in sustainable public transportation and highlights the agency’s addition of five battery-electric commuter coaches on its UCLA/Westwood Commuter Express route.
The service, a partnership with UCLA Transportation and Long Beach Airport, reduces traffic on the 405 freeway and offers zero-emission travel with upgraded amenities for customers. The route connects Long Beach Airport, LA Metro’s Willow rail Station, Westwood Village and the UCLA campus, offering convenient, stress-free travel options with free parking at pick-up points.
“Receiving this award is a tremendous honor,” said Kenneth A. McDonald, President and CEO of Long Beach Transit. “It reflects our team’s dedication to transit innovation and delivering high-quality service to our customers. We’re grateful to the California Transportation Foundation and our partners for this recognition.”
Over their 12-year lifespan, each zero-emission commuter bus is expected to eliminate approximately 1,690 tons of carbon emissions, the equivalent of planting 25,000 trees or taking 370 cars off the road for an entire year. This milestone reflects LBT’s continued commitment to clean air, climate action, and a more sustainable future for the communities it serves.
“We’re proud to see LBT recognized for a project that directly benefits our community,” shared Board Chair Abigail Mejia. “This award celebrates the people behind the work and the customers we help move every day.
This project was funded by a $7 million state grant through the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program and the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. LBT has a long-standing commitment to sustainability, having introduced its first battery-electric bus in 1974 and its first compressed natural gas bus in 2012. Today, the entire fleet runs on alternative fuels. LBT will continue expanding its zero-emission fleet, with additional vehicles and infrastructure upgrades planned in the coming years.
About Long Beach Transit
Long Beach Transit is dedicated to connecting communities and moving people, making everyday life better by providing transportation services in Long Beach, Lakewood, Signal Hill, as well as Artesia, Bellflower, Carson, Cerritos, Compton, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, Los Alamitos, Norwalk, Paramount and Seal Beach. For more information, visit ridelbt.com.