The King County Metro Transit Department’s (King County Metro’s) Tukwila Base, its first fully electric zero-emissions bus base, is nearing completion and preparing for infrastructure testing to power 120 new battery-electric buses (BEBs). The Tukwila Base is scheduled to commence full operation in spring 2026.
Metro has prioritized becoming one of the first large transit agencies in the United States to operate a zero-emission fleet. The 544,000-square-foot Tukwila Base will include maintenance facilities and charging infrastructure for up to 120 BEBs. The base will also accommodate zero-emission support vehicles, such as electric sedans and utility carts, all powered by new charging infrastructure installed at the adjacent parking garage.
King County Metro is integrating sustainability principles into the design and construction of the new buildings at Tukwila Base. Construction is designed to reduce energy consumption, and lighter-colored concrete will help mitigate the heat island effect, minimizing the need for irrigation. These features have achieved platinum status on the county’s Sustainable Infrastructure Scorecard, as required by the Green Building Ordinance.
Construction of the charging infrastructure is nearing completion and it will be ready for testing as the first GILLIG buses, purchased in spring 2024, begin arriving in fall 2025. During the testing period, Metro will focus on procedure checks, testing the charging infrastructure, expanding workforce training, and allowing bus operators to practice using the base’s charging systems.
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