The goal of this award is to establish fully operational portable hydrogen fueling equipment to support the SAN joaquin regional transit district (sjrtd) in launching its first hydrogen fuel cell…

The Federal Transit Administration awarded San Joaquin Regional Transit District $3.2 million on April 1, 2026, under the Federal Transit Formula Grants program (CFDA 20.507) to establish and operate portable hydrogen fueling infrastructure supporting the district's first hydrogen fuel cell electric bus fleet.

The recipient will conduct a site survey to identify the optimal location for the fueling equipment, then deliver and install a self-contained fueling trailer equipped to handle hydrogen deliveries and dispensing with 1,200 kilograms storage capacity. The trailer will be powered by electricity and designed to operate with existing site infrastructure. The contractor will provide regular hydrogen deliveries, routine maintenance, repair services, and safety system monitoring including leak detection. Training will be delivered to SJRTD staff and first responders on safe station operation and emergency response. Pre-acceptance testing will confirm operational readiness and standards compliance.

The fueling system is designed to reliably support 5 to 10 buses and carry a 10-year expected useful life, providing dependable infrastructure for approximately 3 to 5 years of ongoing maintenance, safety checks, and fuel delivery.

Performance period runs from April 1, 2026, through January 30, 2028, with work performed in California.

Activities

The contractor will conduct a site survey to determine the best location for the portable hydrogen fueling equipment and identify any necessary site work such as electrical service and required setbacks. After that the contractor will deliver and set up the fueling trailer ensuring IT meets all operational safety and compliance standards. The fueling trailer will be fully self-contained and equipped to handle hydrogen deliveries and dispensing. Powered through electricity the trailer is designed to operate efficiently with the existing infrastructure already in place at the site. The expected useful life of the fueling trailer is 10 years ensuring long-term reliability and support for the hydrogen bus fleet. The contractor will also provide regular hydrogen deliveries to ensure the trailer remains stocked and operational with a storage capacity of 1200 KG and minimal atmospheric bleed-off. They will perform routine maintenance respond to any repair needs and ensure all safety systems like leak detection are fully functional. To support sjrtds staff the contractor will offer training on how to safely operate the station and handle emergencies including training for first responders. Finally before the fueling trailer is accepted the contractor will perform test fueling to confirm everything works properly and meets the required standards.

Expected outcomes

The expected outcome of this project are the successful installation and operation of a portable hydrogen fueling equipment that ensures reliable fueling for sjrtds hydrogen fuel cell electric buses. The portable equipment will meet all safety and performance standards operate with minimal downtime and maintain a fuel storage capacity of 1200 KG with low venting. The contractor will provide consistent fuel deliveries and complete maintenance and repairs promptly. Additionally sjrtd personnel including first responders will receive proper training for safe operation.

Intended beneficiaries

The intended beneficiaries of this project include the SAN joaquin regional transit district which will benefit from a reliable hydrogen fueling station to support its fleet of fuel cell electric buses reducing fuel costs. Additionally the local economy will benefit from job creation related to the fueling stations operation and maintenance.