03.16.22

Senators Cantwell and Murray Announce $26 Million for King, Kitsap, and Clark County Electric Buses and Transportation Improvements

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee announced three grants totaling over $26 million from the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Bus and Bus Facilities Grant Program to King, Kitsap, and Clark counties. The funding will be used to purchase new electric and renewable energy buses, construct a new transit center, expand service, and help relieve traffic congestion.

“As we continue to climb out of the pandemic and more workers return to their daily commute, congestion will return as well. This $26 million in grant funding to enhance our transit infrastructure will replace 27 outdated buses in King, Kitsap, and Clark Counties with new electric and renewable energy buses,” said Senator Cantwell. “These new buses are critical to expand service, cut travel times for residents commuting to work, and reduce congestion by ultimately getting more vehicles off of our roads.”

“Like so many others in Washington state, I count on public transit as part of my commute. So I know firsthand just how important it is that our transit systems are running on time, and getting people where they need to go,” said Senator Murray. “I’m glad we were able to secure this funding to deliver major upgrades to our bus fleets in Kitsap, Clark County, and along the Puget Sound. This isn’t just good news for commuters—this is also a huge win for local economies, as this will lead to more jobs, less pollution, and more quality transit options to keep Washington moving forward.”

 

Washington state DOT Grant Recipients: 

Grant Recipient

Amount Awarded

Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (Sound Transit)

$12,924,801

Kitsap Transit

$10,400,000

Clark County Public Transportation Benefit Area (C-TRAN)

$2,742,600

 

The Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (Sound Transit) - $12.9 million

Sound Transit will receive $12,924,801 to replace 11 outdated buses with new high capacity transit buses and to construct the new South Renton Transit Center as part of Sound Transit’s I-405 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Stride S1 Line from Burien to Bellevue. The S1 Line, which is on track to open in 2026/2027, is expected to serve 10,000 daily riders on the 18-mile BRT route while reducing travel time by 17 minutes. The project is expected to create 3,729 jobs. Senator Cantwell wrote a letter of support for this grant in October 2021.

“Stride will offer faster, more reliable commutes to thousands of riders every day on new dedicated lines spanning the east, north and south sides of Lake Washington,” said Sound Transit Board Chair Kent Keel. “This funding for building the Stride S1 line on south I-405 will help us give our residents relief to chronic congestion. I want to thank the Biden Administration, Senators Murray and Cantwell, and the rest of the congressional delegation for their partnership and support.”

Kitsap Transit - $10.4 million

Kitsap Transit will receive $10,400,000 to replace 10 diesel buses with 10 battery electric buses and charging infrastructure. The buses will be delivered by 2024. The battery electric buses will save about 126 gallons of diesel fuel per day that would normally be used on its older diesel buses they are replacing. Over the span of the buses’ useful life, 12 years for each of the 10 buses, Kitsap Transit will save $1,093,680 in fuel costs alone over 12 years. The longevity of the new 10 electric buses will also save Kitsap Transit approximately $1,102,200 over 12 years on maintenance costs alone. This will help improve the air quality, safety, and reliability for riders serviced by Kitsap Transit.

“We want to thank our outstanding Congressional delegation for supporting our grant request,” said John Clauson, Executive Director of Kitsap Transit. “We look forward to bringing more electric buses into our fleet.”

Clark County Public Transportation Benefit Area – $2.7 million

The Clark County Public Transportation Benefit Area (C-TRAN) will receive $2,742,600 to purchase 6 renewable diesel buses to replace its remaining 6 outdated diesel buses that have exceeded their useful life, completing C-TRAN’s replacement of its 28 bus fleet with all renewable diesel buses by 2025. These buses are expected to be delivered in 2023. The new diesel buses will improve access and mobility for residents in the urban areas of Clark County in Southwest Washington.

“C-TRAN is very pleased to receive $2.7 million in grant allocations from the Federal Transit Administration’s Bus and Bus Facilities Program. The agency is ready to utilize this funding to help replace our aging fleet with climate friendly and state-of-the-art buses. We are always grateful for the work that is done on C-TRAN’s behalf from Senator Cantwell’s and Senator Murray’s offices and their incredible staffs, our success is built on that support,” said Shawn M. Donaghy Chief Executive Officer, C-TRAN.

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