On June 26, 2023, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) announced that King County Metro Transit will receive $33.5 million to buy approximately 30 battery-powered electric buses and associated charging equipment and train workers to maintain the electric fleet.
This funding comes from the bipartisan infrastructure law and will convert 27 bus routes that serve low-income communities and expand the agency’s apprenticeship program.
“The bipartisan infrastructure law continues to drive Washington forward. This investment will support King County’s transition towards a greener future, improve the reliability of the transit network, make our communities healthier, and create more good-paying union jobs. These are investments and improvements that commuters will see and feel throughout the region,” said DelBene.
“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. 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,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “We are grateful to Representative DelBene and other members of our congressional delegation who helped secure this funding that will allow us to move toward a green future.”
“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.”
This investment in King County Metro Transit is part of a larger $1.7 billion announcement from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The infrastructure law provides a total of $5.5 billion through FY 2026 for low- and zero-emission bus conversions – more than six times greater than the previous five years of funding combined.
More information about the announcement can be found here.
Original source can be found here.
