Commercial, Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions  -  March 8, 2021

City of Santa Monica creates zero-emissions delivery zone

The City of Santa Monica announced on Feb. 25 that it deployed a zero-emissions delivery zone within a one-square mile voluntary area by partnering with tech and delivery companies and community organizations.  The zone will provide priority curb access for zero-emission delivery vehicles in select loading areas. 

The concept was generated by Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator’s (LACI) Transportation Electrification Partnership, which includes local government officials, utilities, state regulators, automakers, industry leaders, labor, and startups working together to reduce air pollution in the greater Los Angeles region by accelerating transportation electrification and zero emissions goods movement in advance of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

"To reduce and ultimately eliminate our carbon emissions, we need to look at all aspects of the transportation sector. This pilot with LACI will use smaller and cleaner technologies to deliver goods instead of the large diesel-fueled trucks we're used to seeing on our streets,” Santa Monica Mayor Sue Himmelrich said in a statement. “Beyond reducing carbon and congestion, the added bonus is that restaurants can keep higher margins of sales on delivered food items. This is coming at a critical moment in our recovery and we look forward to new insights on zero-emissions delivery and the possibilities beyond our one square mile test zone."

The pilot zone brings together more than 15 partners including Ikea and Nissan. The delivery zone will help achieve 2028 targets in a variety of ways:

• Advance emissions reduction policies and tools:  With growing diesel emissions from last-mile delivery vehicles as well as heavy-duty drayage trucks moving the goods from ports to warehouses, the zone will provide insights for other cities, regulators, and industry leaders for zero-emissions zones & reducing long-term exposure to pollution. 
• Pilot curb management solutions: With up to 20 zero-emission loading priority curb areas in the most congested core of the zone, zero-emission delivery use, congestion, safety, dwell time, and other metrics will inform future deployments of zero-emissions zones and congestion pricing in Los Angeles and other urban centers. 
• Demonstrate technology innovations: By deploying and demonstrating technologies needed for zero-emissions delivery zones, Santa Monica and LACI will explore how best to meet operational needs, create local green jobs, and improve quality of life. 

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