Five additional electric buses and a new full-service maintenance transit facility to support Kitsap Transit’s move to a zero-emission fleet will become a reality thanks to a $17 million federal grant.
“(This) investment in Washington state will help move people better,” said U.S. Rep Derek Kilmer (6th District). “That’s important for our local economies, for quality of life, and for helping community connectivity. Having the federal government provide this grant funding means we will see improvements without the cost being borne entirely by taxpayers in our neck of the woods. That’s a huge win for our region.”
KT executive director John Clauson said: “We are deeply grateful to our Congressional delegation for supporting Kitsap Transit’s infrastructure projects on the road to a greener, more sustainable future for public transportation. This new maintenance facility has been on our wish list for quite some time and supports the transit fleet of the future.”
The funding will go to purchase additional double-decker battery-electric buses and construct a new maintenance facility at KT’s North base in Poulsbo. Currently, the North base has no maintenance bay for buses and one charger station for electric buses – a primary focus of KT’s future.
Construction of a new facility will combat challenges posed by the outdated Charleston Base facility in Bremerton, which was built in the 1940s and has no room to expand. That base – with three maintenance bays – is operating at full capacity but has outgrown KT’s expanding fleet, officials reported.
Presently, the transit group has to drive buses that operate North Kitsap routes 35 miles (roundtrip) to the Charleston base for repairs and maintenance. The Bremerton maintenance facility has three bays to service more than 300 vehicles. The extra travel for service results in 2,700 bus roundtrips annually, consuming fuel and employee hours, and additional wear-and-tear on buses, officials said.
KT has seven battery-electric buses on the road. By 2025 officials plan to increase that fleet to 30 and by 2027 have up to 50 of the high-tech buses on fixed routes. The proposed Poulsbo facility would be about 23,000 square feet.
The facility will feature five maintenance bays and electric vehicle charging. It will have updated maintenance workspaces with crane lifts, elevated walkways and high voltage protective equipment.
The funding comes in the form of a grant from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity program, which was established by Sen. Patty Murray. KT was one of eight recipients in the state-awarded RAISE funds.
KT plans to add 20% of the federal funding with local dollars. The project’s total cost is $21.25 million, with $13 million for the maintenance facility and $8.25 million for the five double-decker electric buses, KT officials said.
