King County Metro enjoys the benefit of lower fuel costs from buying electric buses. Josh Cohen argues that it's time for Sound Transit to get on board.
Diesel exhaust is one of the main toxic pollutants in the Seattle area, and Josh Cohen argues that it's time for Sound Transit to start the transaction to fully electric buses. "Sound Transit, which operates 307 buses throughout the region along with its light rail system, has no all-electric buses, nor any immediate plans to purchase them," Cohen writes for Crosscut.
Other transit agencies have already begun using all electric vehicles in their fleets. "King County Metro is leading the charge with 11 battery electric buses in operation on two routes in Redmond and Bellevue. The agency plans to buy 120 more by 2020, on its way to meeting a goal of being fully electric by 2040," Cohen writes. Everett and Peirce Transit have also already purchased all electric vehicles.
Besides the fumes, there's also maintenance costs to contend with. Advocates argue that over the life of an electric bus, it will save transit agencies money. While the initial cost of electric buses is still higher than that of diesel buses, the difference operational costs, fuel costs and maintenance costs can make up that difference and more over the life of a bus.
FULL STORY: As other agencies launch electric buses, Sound Transit stalls
Seattle to Introduce Electric Buses With Wireless Charging
In-ground induction chargers will reduce the cost of the charging network.
Seattle-Area Light Rail Breaks Ridership Record, Again
Thanks to a new extension and reorganized connecting bus lines, the Link light rail system topped 3 million rides in October.
West Seattle Link Expansion Could Cost $7 Billion
Sound Transit is moving forward with a proposed route despite severe cost overruns, throwing other major rail projects into question.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
City Nature Challenge: Explore, Document, and Protect Urban Biodiversity
The City Nature Challenge is a global community science event where participants use the iNaturalist app to document urban biodiversity, contributing valuable data to support conservation and scientific research.
A Lone Voice for Climate: How The Wild Robot Stands Apart in Hollywood
Among this year’s Oscar-nominated films, only The Wild Robot passed the Climate Reality Check, a test measuring climate change representation in storytelling, highlighting the ongoing lack of climate awareness in mainstream Hollywood films.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research