King County Metro battery-electric coaches at Metro’s South Base in Tukwila. COURTESY FILE PHOTO, King County Metro

King County Metro battery-electric coaches at Metro’s South Base in Tukwila. COURTESY FILE PHOTO, King County Metro

Metro receives $33.5M in federal funds to buy electric buses

Money to be used for 30 new buses as Metro aims for zero-emission fleet by 2035

King County Metro will receive $33.5 million in federal funding to support the purchase of 30 battery-electric buses.

“This will help us in our goal to be one of the first large transit agencies in North America with a 100% zero-emission fleet by 2035,” according to a June 26 Metro news release.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recently announced 130 awards totaling nearly $1.7 billion from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for transit projects in 46 states and territories. Metro’s award is in the top 10 of the transit systems receiving these grants.

“Our focus is on converting 27 bus routes serving low-income communities and expanding our apprenticeship program, to help promote transit careers in underserved communities,” according to Metro.

“Every day, over 60,000 buses in communities of all sizes take millions of Americans to work, school, and everywhere else they need to go,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Today’s announcement means more clean buses, less pollution, more jobs in manufacturing and maintenance, and better commutes for families across the country.”

King County Executive Dow Constantine said he was grateful to the congressional delegation who helped secure the funding.

“King County Metro already takes hundreds of thousands of cars, and their emissions, off the road every day, and this federal funding moves us closer toward our commitment to convert to an all-electric, zero-emission bus fleet by 2035,” Constantine said. “This funding supports our work to advance equity and social justice by prioritizing service areas for these new electric buses in neighborhoods disproportionately impacted by pollution generated by fossil fuels and invests in our future workforce by eliminating barriers to opportunity in transit sector green jobs and apprenticeships programs.”

The projects are supported by FTA’s Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities and Low- and No-Emission (Low-No) Vehicle programs. The Buses and Bus Facilities program provides federal funding for transit agencies to buy and rehabilitate buses and vans and build and modernize bus facilities.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides nearly $2 billion through fiscal year 2026 for the program. For fiscal year 2023, approximately $473 million for grants was available under this program.

Al Sanders, of King County Metro, contributed to this article.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in Northwest

Jakob Two Trees in Issaquah (Photo by Cameron Sires/ Sound Publishing)
Trolls from Denmark make their mark across Puget Sound

Coastal Salish tribes also embrace the project.

t
Young Renton girl is suspect in series of burglaries and thefts

In one incident, the girl, described as 12 to 14 years old, successfully stole a vehicle.

t
Anonymous benefactor donates $800,000 to fully fund Auburn food bank relocation

Executive director: ‘I have a Christmas miracle at Thanksgiving’

Photo courtesy of Raise the Wage Renton
A group of volunteers gathering signatures at the Landing Shopping Centre.
Renton minimum wage increase to appear on ballots in February 2024

Raise the Wage Renton urges City Council to approve the measure by council vote before then.

File photo
Federal Way Police fatally shoot man during domestic violence call

A man with a knife came out of the front door and rushed the officers on Nov. 16, according to police.

t
Federal Way teen’s case will be featured on ‘48 Hours’

The 1991 murder of Sarah Yarborough and conviction this year of her killer

Cameron Sheppard/Sound Publishing
The bass drum is wheeled into the Renton History Museum.
Boom! Seahawks drum finds new home in Renton | Photos

500-pound bass drum shipped from Lumen Field to the Renton History Museum.

Prison bars (File photo)
WA to invest $200 million to address disparities created by “war on drugs”

Dept. of Commerce to establish 17 different grant programs to invest in communities impacted.

Dale and Denise Pac in front of their family home. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / The Mirror
A lifesaving match made in Federal Way

Unlikely kidney transplant shows these high school sweethearts were meant to be together.

Two 23-year-old residents and 56-year-old James Tatum and his son and daughter were involved in a shootout that killed Tatum. (Screenshot.)
Man killed in shooting outside Renton bank | Video

Fight near ATM leads to shots fired

t
King County jail guard reportedly took bribes to smuggle drugs to inmates

Allegedly took in methamphetamine and fentanyl to two inmates at Seattle correctional facility

t
Should voters use unofficial ballot drop boxes?

King County does not recommend utilizing third-parties when it comes to ballots and elections.