State Buses and Bus Facilities

State Buses and Bus Facilities grants provide funding to transit agencies for the replacement, expansion, rehabilitation, and purchase of transit rolling stock; construction, modification, or rehabilitation of transit facilities; and funding to adapt to technological change or innovation through the retrofitting of transit rolling stock and facilities.

This grant is supported by state funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA). The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov.

logo saying 'Funded by Washington's Climate Commitment Act,' with an image of the outline of Washington state

 

This grant is established under the 16-year Move Ahead Washington transportation package and codified in RCW 47.66.130.

Available funding

We anticipate up to $37.5 million in state funding for State Buses and Bus Facilities grants in the 2023-2025 biennium. The Legislature will determine the funding level during the 2023 legislative session.

We will notify applicants of awards by May 22, 2023. WSDOT may scale awards depending on need and availability of funds.

Eligible applicants

Any transit agency in Washington state is an eligible applicant. A transit agency is defined as:

  • City transit system under RCW 35.58.2721 or chapter 35.95A RCW.
  • County public transportation authority under chapter 36.57 RCW.
  • Metropolitan municipal corporation transit system under chapter 36.56 RCW.
  • Public transportation benefit area under chapter 36.57A RCW.
  • Unincorporated transportation benefit area under RCW 36.57.100.
  • Special purpose district formed to operate a public transportation system.

Eligible projects and related costs

Capital projects and related expenditures may include:

  • Replacement, expansion, rehabilitation, and purchase of transit rolling stock.
  • Construction, modification, or rehabilitation of transit facilities.
  • Funding to adapt to technological change or innovation through the retrofitting of transit rolling stock and facilities.

Match requirement

Applicants must provide matching funds as direct contributions of at least 20 percent of the total project cost. Direct contributions are cash or other assets that directly benefit the project and are fundamental to implementing the project. With the exception of competitive state-funded grants administered by WSDOT’s Public Transportation Division, applicants may use other grants as match.

Important dates

  • Sept. 27, 2022: WSDOT posts notice of funding opportunity.
  • Nov. 1, 2022: Grant application available in the Grants Management System.
  • 10:30 a.m. PST, Nov. 17, 2022: Informational webinar for prospective applicants.
  • 3 p.m. PST, Jan. 10, 2023: Grant applications due in the Grants Management System.
  • January-February 2023: Evaluation panel reviews and scores applications.
  • April 2023: WSDOT sends prioritized list of projects to the Legislature and Governor’s Office.
  • May 2023: WSDOT sends grant award letters to grantees (subject to budget bill enactment).
  • June 2023: Grant guidelines and contracts sent out.
  • July 1, 2023: 2023-2025 biennium begins.
  • June 30, 2025: 2023-2025 biennium ends, at which time all funded projects must be completed.

Evaluation process

WSDOT uses a competitive process for awards from the State Buses and Bus Facilities Grant program using a panel of subject matter experts to review and evaluate applications.

Evaluation criteria

An independent review panel will evaluate applications based on the following evaluation criteria:

  • Demonstration of need, including how the project meets agency state-of-good-repair goals, how it meets safety goals, and how it addresses environmental harms and provides environmental benefits for overburdened communities and vulnerable populations.
  • Demonstration of benefits, including measurable outcomes that improve the quality or scope of service in the community.
  • Local/regional prioritization.
  • Local financial commitment/match.
  • Project implementation strategy, including the demonstrated readiness of the project for implementation.
  • Project experience.

Sign up for grant updates

To stay informed about WSDOT public transportation grants, you can register in GovDelivery.

Awards

The table below illustrates 16 new State Buses and Bus Facilities projects funded for $38 million and awarded for the 2023-2025 biennium.

Organization County/counties Project description Award
City of Everett Snohomish 2023-2025 State Bus and Bus Facilities Grant for electric buses $5,120,000
City of Longview Cowlitz One low-floor hybrid replacement bus $653,600
City of Pullman Whitman One battery-electric bus and charger to replace a 1990s diesel coach bus in Pullman  $555,286
Clallam County Public Transportation Benefit Area Clallam Four replacement, heavy-duty, clean-diesel buses $2,178,864
Grant County Public Transportation Benefit Area Grant Phase II expansion of maintenance facility and added equipment $5,768,418
Intercity Transit Thurston East Martin Way Gateway Station roundabout project $680,000
King County Metro Transit King RapidRide G Line bus rapid transit bus acquisition $4,321,777
King County Metro Transit King Interim base chargers and zero emissions fleet conversion $5,412,000
King County Metro Transit King Metro Alternative Services bus replacement $3,045,777
Kitsap County Public Transportation Benefit Area Authority Kitsap Inductive charging units for transit centers $1,412,558
Lewis Public Transportation Benefit Area Lewis Zero-emission vehicle infrastructure and equipment $907,720
Snohomish County Public Transit Benefit Area Corp. Snohomish RideStore remodel and expansion at Lynnwood Transit Center $3,840,000
Spokane Transit Authority Spokane Fleck Center bus and van washer replacement $764,000
Whatcom Transportation Authority Whatcom Retrofitting fixed-route fleet with automatic passenger counters  $640,000
Whatcom Transportation Authority Whatcom Route maintenance building and back-up power supply $1,940,000
Yakima Transit Yakima Acquisition of new paratransit vehicles $760,000

 

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