“It’s Electric!” King County Metro celebrates its 100% battery electric bus base

Tukwila Base is home to 120 buses “fueled” by electricity, a renewable energy source.

It is a state of the art facility that has already become a blueprint for other transit agencies from around the country to emulate. It’s the only 100% battery electric bus base in Washington and one of the largest in the country.

Representatives from the companies that helped build Tukwila Base joined Metro staff to celebrate the end of construction and delivery of bus service out of the base.

At the Nov. 4 celebration, Metro General Manager Michelle Allison was joined by a number of companies that helped build Tukwila Base. From McKinstry, the general contractor, to the companies that helped design and procure the infrastructure that charges the buses, to the manufacturer that built the battery electric buses now in service, this was their chance to see how their parts of the project are working together to power the facility and provide bus service to our community.

“Metro is lucky to be part of a county that is a national leader in reducing greenhouse gas and its impact on our climate. A deep thank you to the construction companies and agencies who helped build this base so we can follow through on our climate commitments,” Allison said. “Tukwila Base is the future of clean, regional transit, that delivers service to our riders every day and is the next step in our journey toward completely zero-emission bus service.”

The 544,000-square-foot base houses the maintenance facilities and charging infrastructure for Metro’s fleet of over 120 battery-electric buses from New Flyer and GILLIG. It’s also home to zero-emission support vehicles, including electric sedans and utility carts used by Metro.

A “power” partnership

The event was also a celebration of a partnership that stretches back decades between Metro and Seattle City Light. From the growth of substations throughout the city to help supply power to Metro’s fleet of 174 electric trolleys to working together to ensure that Tukwila Base had the electricity it needs, the two agencies have focused on developing a transit system that is helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout the region.

“We’re proud that the electricity powering this facility comes from a carbon-neutral power supply. By pairing clean electricity with zero-emission transit, we’re helping create cleaner air, quieter neighborhoods, and a more sustainable transportation system,” said David Logsdon, Seattle City Light’s Director of Electrification and Strategic Technology. “While this is a celebration of what we’ve built, it’s also a blueprint for what’s next. The lessons learned here will help guide future transit electrification projects across our region and continue to position Metro and City Light as leaders in the transition to cleaner transportation.”

Tukwila Base serves a region that has long faced disproportionate air pollution impacts. Public transit buses already provide a greener alternative to single-occupancy vehicles, by reducing congestion and emissions. Transitioning to zero-emission buses makes this sustainable mode of transportation even cleaner, delivering greater greenhouse gas reductions and improved air quality for the communities it serves.

After a summer of testing, Tukwila Base is currently operating Routes 105, 128, 156, 184 and the RapidRide F Line serving communities in Seattle and south King County. Be on the lookout for the electric yellow and seafoam blue—along with the red and purple RapidRide battery electric buses—in your neighborhood!