Glendale Earth Day Fair Marks Milestone with First Electric Beeline Bus

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 5, 2025

Office of Sustainability Contact: Nora Karakashian
Email: NKarakashian@GlendaleCA.gov
Office: (818) 548-3320

City Media Contact: Communications and Community Relations
Email: Communications@GlendaleCA.gov
Office:(818) 548-3342

Glendale Earth Day Fair Marks Milestone with First Electric Beeline Bus

Glendale, CA - Earth Day Fair brought the community together to celebrate sustainability, resilience, and innovation on Saturday, April 26 at Verdugo Park. Despite the rain, hundreds of residents came out to engage with over 40 local exhibitors and took part in interactive activities-including goat yoga, bird feed making, plant potting, a mobile zoo, electric landscaping demonstrations, and local business booths.

The event highlighted community-driven climate action while celebrating significant milestones in the City's environmental initiatives. A major highlight was the debut of Glendale's first electric Beeline bus, part of a broader Fleet Electrification Plan that puts the City on track for a fully zero-emissions transit fleet by 2035-five years ahead of state mandates. "The launch of our first electric Beeline bus is more than a transit upgrade; it's a commitment to cleaner air, healthier neighborhoods, and a more sustainable Glendale," said the City's Public Works Director, Daniel Hernandez. "We're proud to lead the way with a fleet that reflects the future of public transportation." An additional 20 buses will be coming in the next three years backed by $34.6 million in grant funding from the California State Transportation Agency. Additional funding was provided by Federal Transit Administration, Metro Measure M Subregional, and City match of Measure R Local Return. The program aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while providing quieter, cleaner public transportation.

Local sustainability organizations, including the Glendale Environmental Coalition, Food Forward, Arroyos and Foothills Conservancy, Glendale Parks & Open Space Foundation, Walk Bike Glendale, and Hoover High School's Climate Change Club, engaged with residents on topics such as food rescue, urban forestry, and environmental stewardship. Attendees also had the opportunity to test professional-grade electric landscaping equipment at the American Green Zone Alliance booth, learning about incentives offered by South Coast AQMD to encourage cleaner alternatives.

The City extends its gratitude to all participating organizations, volunteers, and residents who made the event a successful step toward a more sustainable Glendale.

For more information regarding the event, visit GlendaleCA.gov/EarthDay.

For photos, click here.

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About the Office of Sustainability

The mission of the City of Glendale's Office of Sustainability is to help meet the needs of Glendale's residents and businesses today, as well as to help preserve the ability of future generations to meet their sustainability needs.

About Glendale

Known as the "Jewel City," Glendale is the fourth largest city of Los Angeles County. With a population of more than 200,000, Glendale is a thriving cosmopolitan city that is rich in history, culturally diverse, and offers nearly 50 public parks, and easy access to a municipal airport. It is the home to a vibrant business community, with major companies in healthcare, entertainment, manufacturing, retail, and banking.