1194-1 

(Adopted August 18, 2000)(Amended October 20, 2000) 

RULE 1194. COMMERCIAL AIRPORT GROUND ACCESS 

(a) Purpose 

For all public and private fleets that provide passenger transportation services out 

of commercial airports operating in the South Coast Air Quality Management 

(District), this rule requires passenger car, light-duty truck, medium-duty transit 

vehicle, and heavy-duty transit vehicle fleet operators to acquire cleaner burning 

or alternative-fueled vehicles to reduce air toxic and criteria pollutant emissions 

when procuring or leasing these vehicles in the District unless otherwise exempt. 

(b) Applicability 

 This rule applies to all public and private fleet operators of fifteen (15) or more 

vehicles operated by the airport authority or any other public or private fleet 

operators that transport passengers from commercial airports located in the 

District. This rule shall not apply to public or private fleet operators subject to 

Rules 1191, 1192, 1193, [adopted June 16, 2000], 1195 [proposal for school 

buses], 1196 [adopted October 20, 2000], and 1186.1 [adopted August 18, 2000]. 

(c) Definitions 

For purposes of this rule, the following definitions shall apply: 

(1) AIRPORT FLEET OPERATOR is a person who owns, leases, or operates 

vehicles at commercial airports located in the District for the express 

purpose of transporting passengers. A person is a public agency that is 

responsible for airport transportation operation; or any private individual 

firm, association, franchise, cooperative, organization, partnership, 

business trust corporation, company, contractor, user, or owner that 

operates at commercial airports and provides transportation services 

including taxicab, limousine, passenger shuttles, and courtesy shuttle 

transportation such as those provided by private vehicle leasing and rental 

agencies and hotels, or transports passengers to and from commercial 

airports and/or granted approval by the commercial airport authority to 

pick up passengers within the jurisdictional boundaries of a commercial 

airport. 
Rule 1194 (Cont.) (Amended October 20, 2000) 

1194-2 

(2) ALTERNATIVE-FUELED VEHICLE means a light- or medium-duty 

vehicle, or heavy-duty transit vehicle or engine that is not powered by 

gasoline or diesel fuel. 

(3) COMMERCIAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY means any oversight entity 

that regulates the operations in and out of a commercial airport. A 

commercial airport authority may be a commission such as an airport or 

taxicab commission, County Board of Supervisors, or city council. 

(4) DMV means California Department of Motor Vehicles. 

(5) FLEET VEHICLES means any vehicles including passenger cars, lightduty trucks, or medium- and heavy-duty on-road vehicles used to provide 

public transportation, owned, leased, or operated by an public or private 

airport fleet operator that totals 15 or more vehicles. In addition, only 

those vehicles operated substantially or dedicated to operate at all 

commercial airports should be counted when accounting for the number of 

fleet vehicles operating at commercial airports. An airport fleet operator 

may own, lease, or operate vehicles out of several commercial airports in 

the District and all vehicles operated by the operator shall be added 

together in calculating the total number of fleet vehicles. 

(6) HEAVY-DUTY TRANSIT VEHICLE means any vehicle having a gross 

vehicle weight of at least 14,000 pounds that is used for the express 

purpose of providing public transportation or employee transportation. 

(7) MEDIUM-DUTY VEHICLE means any vehicle having a gross vehicle 

weight of more than 6,000 pounds and less than 14,000 pounds that is 

used for the express purpose of providing public transportation or 

employee transportation. 

(8) PASSENGER CAR means any vehicle designed primarily for 

transportation of persons and having a design capacity of twelve (12) 

persons or less. A passenger van or minivan is considered a passenger car 

for the purposes of this rule. 

(9) SUPER-ULTRA-LOW-EMISSION VEHICLE (SULEV) means any 

vehicle certified to super-ultra-low-emission standards set forth in the 

“California Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures for 1988-

2000 Model Passenger Cars, Light-Duty Trucks, and Medium-Duty 

Vehicles” and “California Exhaust Emission Standards and Test 

Procedures for 2001 and Subsequent Model Passenger Cars, Light-Duty 
Rule 1194 (Cont.) (Amended October 20, 2000) 

1194-3 

Trucks, and Medium-Duty Vehicles,” as incorporated by reference in 

Sections 1960.1(k) and 1961(d), Title 13, California Code of Regulations. 

(10) ULTRA-LOW-EMISSION VEHICLE (ULEV) means any vehicle 

certified to ultra-low-emission standards set forth in the “California 

Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures for 1988-2000 Model 

Passenger Cars, Light-Duty Trucks, and Medium-Duty Vehicles” and 

“California Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures for 2001 and 

Subsequent Model Passenger Cars, Light-Duty Trucks, and Medium-Duty 

Vehicles,” as incorporated by reference in Sections 1960.1(k) and 

1961(d), Title 13, California Code of Regulations. 

(11) VEHICLE means any self-propelled, motorized device that is permitted to 

operate on public roads through DMV registration. 

(12) ZERO-EMISSION VEHICLE (ZEV) means any vehicle certified to the 

zero-emission standards set forth in the “California Exhaust Emission 

Standards and Test Procedures for 2003 and Subsequent Model ZeroEmission Vehicles, and 2001 and Subsequent Model Hybrid 

ElectricVehicles, in the Passenger Car, Light-Duty Truck and MediumDuty Vehicle Classes,” as incorporated by reference in Section 1962(d), 

Title 13, California Code of Regulations. 

(d) Fleet Purchase Requirements 

(1) Beginning July 1, 2001, for airport fleet operators providing limousine or 

transit shuttle services out of commercial airport terminals to the public 

through the collection of fares or fees, or provide courtesy pickup services 

out of commercial airport terminals, all new purchases or leases of 

passenger cars or medium-duty vehicles used to pick up passengers at 

commercial airport terminals shall be a vehicle that has been certified by 

CARB that meets the ULEV, SULEV, or ZEV emission standards when 

adding or replacing a passenger car or medium-duty vehicle to their fleet. 

(2) For shuttle van services that provide multiple-party passenger 

transportation services to commercial airport terminals and do not operate 

on fixed or scheduled routes: 

(A) Beginning July 1, 2001, 50 percent of all new purchases or leases 

of vehicles used to transport passengers in and out of commercial 

airport terminals, shall be vehicles that are certified by CARB to 
Rule 1194 (Cont.) (Amended October 20, 2000) 

1194-4 

meet ULEV, SULEV, or ZEV emission standards when adding or 

replacing a passenger car or medium-duty vehicle to their fleet. 

(B) Beginning July 1, 2002, 100 percent of all new purchases or leases 

of vehicles used to transport passengers in and out of commercial 

airport terminals, shall be vehicles that are certified by CARB to 

meet ULEV, SULEV, or ZEV emission standards when adding or 

replacing a passenger car or medium-duty vehicle to their fleet. 

(3) Beginning July 1, 2001, for airport fleet operators providing transit shuttle 

services to the public in and out of airport terminals to airport parking lots, 

car rental lots, or hotels/motels, all new heavy-duty transit vehicle 

purchases or leases shall be alternative-fueled vehicles when adding or 

replacing transit vehicles to their vehicle fleet. 

(4) Beginning January 1, 2002, for airport fleet operators providing taxicab 

pickup services out of commercial airport terminals through the collection 

of fares or fees, all new purchases or leases of passenger cars or mediumduty vehicles used to pick up passengers at commercial airport terminals 

shall be a vehicle that has been certified by CARB that meets the ULEV, 

SULEV, or ZEV emission standards when adding or replacing a passenger 

car or medium-duty vehicle to their fleet. 

(5) Vehicles acquired pursuant to paragraph (d)(4) must be operated within 

the South Coast Air Quality Management District for a minimum of three 

years if funding to offset the purchase cost, less $10,000 in accordance 

with paragraph (e)(3), was made available. 

(6) Prior to January 1, 2002, airport fleet operators voluntarily purchasing an 

alternative-fueled vehicle meeting requirements of paragraph (d)(4) after 

adoption of this rule, may apply for funding to offset the purchase cost, 

less $10,000 in accordance with paragraph (e)(3). 

(e) Exemptions 

The provisions of this rule shall not apply to the following: 

(1) Buses used for the express purpose of providing long-distance service 

(out-of-District), that are generally equipped with luggage compartments, 

restrooms, and overhead storage. 

(2) Upon demonstration to the Executive Officer, any vehicles as required 

pursuant to paragraph (d) for which no alternative-fuel engine and chassis 

configuration is available commercially or could be used. 
Rule 1194 (Cont.) (Amended October 20, 2000) 

1194-5 

(3) An airport fleet operator who provides taxicab pickup services at 

commercial airport terminals may purchase a light- or medium-duty 

vehicle that is not certified by CARB as ULEV or cleaner if the SCAQMD 

or its designated agent has not provided sufficient funding to fully offset 

the purchase cost of an alternative-fueled vehicle that complies with 

paragraph (d)(4) less $10,000 (paid by or on the behalf of the airport fleet 

operator): 

(A) within 10 working days after notification by the airport fleet 

operator of the intent to purchase such vehicle and the airport fleet 

operator has provided documentation that the $10,000 is 

immediately available for purchase of the rule compliant vehicle, 

or 

(B) within two working days after the airport fleet operator has 

notified the SCAQMD or its designated agent in the event that the 

taxicab vehicle to be replaced is rendered inoperable due to a 

roadside accident and would require immediate replacement of the 

taxicab vehicle. In addition, the airport fleet operator must 

demonstrate that the $10,000 to be provided by the airport fleet 

operator is immediately available for purchase of the rule 

compliant vehicle. 

(C) Notwithstanding the provisions in paragraphs (e)(3)(A) or 

(e)(3)(B), the airport fleet operator shall be responsible to pay for 

the cost of converting the new rule compliant vehicle to meet 

applicable taxicab vehicle specifications and all other incidental 

costs including but not limited to, sales tax on the $10,000 

provided by the airport fleet operator, license, and registration fees. 

(D) An airport fleet operator qualifying for a non-rule compliant 

vehicle as provided in paragraphs (e)(3)(A) or (e)(3)(B) shall 

purchase the non-rule compliant vehicle within 10 working days 

after being notified that such vehicle could be purchased or reapply 

for co-funding pursuant to paragraphs (e)(3)(A) or (e)(3)(B). 

(4) Vehicles not certified by CARB as ULEV or cleaner that are converted to 

be wheelchair accessible (to meet regulations set by the Commercial 

Airport Authority and all Americans with Disability Act of 1990 

requirements, including door height overhead clearance as well as ramp or 
Rule 1194 (Cont.) (Amended October 20, 2000) 

1194-6 

lift design specifications) for the purpose of providing taxicab pickup 

services at commercial airport terminals. 

(f) Compliance Auditing and Enforcement 

(1) The fleet operator shall provide at the request of the District any files 

and/or records created to comply with subdivision (d) including fleetspecific purchase information, such as a list of official DMV registrations, 

and manufacturer, model-year, model, engine family number, and fuel 

type of each fleet vehicle. The fleet operator shall keep all required 

records for a minimum of two years. 

(2) Any fleet operator seeking an exemption under subdivision (f) shall 

supply proof that their fleet is exempted from this rule when requested by 

the District. 

(g) Severability 

If any provision of this rule is held by judicial order to be invalid, or invalid or 

inapplicable to any person or circumstance, such order shall not affect the validity 

of the remainder of this rule, or the validity or applicability of such provision to 

other persons or circumstances. In the event any of the exceptions to this rule is 

held by judicial order to be invalid, the persons or circumstances covered by the 

exception shall instead be required to comply with the remainder of this rule.