Pierce Transit Celebrates $14.8 Million FTA Grant Award

July 12, 2024

On July 11, Pierce Transit hosted the Federal Transit Administration and elected officials to celebrate receiving a $14.8 million Buses & Bus Facilities grant award. The funding will be used to purchase new battery electric buses and install new charging equipment. This project will improve efficiency and help facilitate expansion of Pierce Transit's zero-emission fleet.

“Pierce Transit is honored to receive this $14.8 million FTA Buses and Bus Facilities grant for the purchase of battery electric buses and installation of charging infrastructure,” said Pierce Transit CEO Mike Griffus. “Our Congressional Delegation was instrumental in helping us secure this award, and they continue to champion environmental and public health improvements in our service area. The covered-gantry-style chargers funded by this grant are the first of their kind for our agency, and they offer efficient charging and safe handling benefits for personnel in inclement weather. Fleet expansion and the additional charging capacity on our base means more reliable service to our community and brings us several steps closer to our goal of transitioning 20% of the fixed route bus fleet to zero emissions vehicles by 2030, aiming for full fleet electrification by 2042.

At Pierce Transit, sustainability is a core value addressed in terms of the services provided and how the agency operates. FTA funding will support the purchase of four 40-foot battery-electric buses (BEBs), plus a new gantry with charging infrastructure to support up to 30 BEBs at the Pierce Transit base in Lakewood, Washington. This award brings the agency closer to meeting its sustainability goals.

“Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are creating new opportunities to improve the lives of millions of Americans who rely daily on buses,” said FTA Acting Administrator Veronica Vanterpool. “These grants will help deliver cleaner and greener transportation, designed to reach everyone, and to work for everyone, particularly in places that haven’t received enough resources in the past.”

Pierce Transit has developed a Zero Emission Bus Strategy to further the agency’s electrification efforts and align with Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Zero Emission Transition Plan guidelines by developing a pathway to operating a zero-emission bus (ZEB) fleet. The agency has made significant strides in electrification, with nine BEBs currently in its fleet and up to three more on the way. These zero-emission buses not only offer a smooth, quiet ride but also contribute to significant fuel cost savings and reduced tailpipe emissions.

“Pierce Transit has a goal of electrifying its fleet by 2042, and the Board supports that plan,” said Pierce Transit Board Chair and Tacoma City Councilmember Kristina Walker. “Every time we increase the range and usability of our existing electric fleet we have another opportunity to positively impact our community and improve our collective impacts on climate change. I couldn’t be more excited about this new electric bus fleet and charging investment at Pierce Transit headquarters.”

The following elected officials and public transportation leaders offered remarks at the event:

Pierce Transit Chief of Planning Ryan Wheaton
Lakewood Mayor and Pierce Transit Board Vice Chair Jason Whalen
FTA Region 10 Administrator Susan Fletcher
Pierce Transit Board Chair, Tacoma City Councilmember Kristina Walker
Pierce Transit Board member and Tacoma Deputy Mayor John Hines
Pierce Transit Board member and Pierce County Council Chairman Ryan Mello

Representatives from the offices of U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, in addition to the offices of Representatives Marilyn Strickland, Derek Kilmer, Kim Schrier, and Adam Smith, joined the celebration. Each of these Members of Congress signed onto a letter in support of Pierce Transit’s grant application in April 2024.

About Pierce Transit:

Founded in 1979, Pierce Transit is a nationally recognized leader in the public transportation industry. The agency’s service covers 292 square miles of Pierce County with roughly 70 percent of the county population. Serving Washington’s second- most-populous county, Pierce Transit provides four types of service: traditional bus, SHUTTLE paratransit, on-demand
Runner and Rideshare that help get passengers to jobs, school, appointments and other critical destinations.

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Government Sites: Pierce County Health Dept, Pierce Co Sheriffs Office, Tacoma City Hall

Major Commercial Sites: Tacoma Mall, Sheraton Hotel

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Schools & Colleges: Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma Community College

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