King County Metro is receiving $33.5 million in federal funding to support the purchase of zero-emission buses, helping us in our goal to be one of the first large transit agencies in North America with a 100% zero-emission fleet by 2035.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) 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.

Metro will be using the funds to purchase 30 battery-electric buses. 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.

“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 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 the members of our congressional delegation who helped secure this funding that will allow us to move toward a green future.”

“These funds play a vital role in our transition to a zero-emission future,” said Metro General Manager Michelle Allison. “The buses and the maintenance training they will help fund are both an environmental and a social justice shift. Our focus is placing these buses and the work to maintain them in communities that have borne the brunt of climate change for too long. Continued federal funding in our work paves the way for King County Metro to drive the transit industry and growth as we make our switch to a battery-electric future.”

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 FY 2026 for the program. For FY 2023, approximately $473 million for grants was available under this program.

Quotes:

“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. Today’s announcement means more clean buses, less pollution, more jobs in manufacturing and maintenance, and better commutes for families across the country.”
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg

“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. We are grateful to the members of our congressional delegation who helped secure this funding that will allow us to move toward a green future.”
King County Executive Dow Constantine

“These funds play a vital role in our transition to a zero-emission future. The buses and the maintenance training they will help fund are both an environmental and a social justice shift. Our focus is placing these buses and the work to maintain them in communities that have borne the brunt of climate change for too long. Continued federal funding in our work paves the way for King County Metro to drive the transit industry and growth as we make our switch to a battery-electric future.”
Metro General Manager Michelle Allison

“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.”
Representative Suzan DelBene

“Decarbonizing our transportation sector is crucial to creating a clean energy economy and tackling climate change. This grant for King County Metro – the largest public transit agency in the Puget Sound region – will help get us there. King County Metro is already making progress towards its ambitious commitment to achieve a zero-emissions fleet, which is crucial for the health of our communities and the environment. This funding will help the Puget Sound region continue to be a leader in the transition to a clean energy economy. I was proud to support the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in Congress and I’m thrilled to see these dollars come to our region to support our clean energy future and fulfill the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to investing in America.”
Representative Adam Smith