Seattle is embracing the transition to electrified public transit, powered by clean electricity from Seattle City Light. The city already benefits from several modes of electrified transportation, including streetcars, trolley buses, and light rail. Moreover, the expansion of electric buses, ferries, and other transportation options is underway, providing accessible, affordable, and environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional gas and diesel-powered vehicles. This transition is essential for improving air quality and reducing emissions, benefiting the city’s residents and the planet.
Community-Centered Electrification Priorities
As part of its Transportation Electrification Strategic Investment Plan (TESIP), Seattle City Light conducted outreach to communities most affected by transportation-related pollution. Black, Indigenous, People of Color, immigrant, refugee, and low-income communities highlighted the electrification of public transit as a top priority. These communities are disproportionately impacted by the health and environmental harms caused by vehicle emissions. In response, Seattle City Light is working to ensure that the benefits of electrified public transit are distributed equitably, improving the quality of life for all residents.
Seattle City Light has formed strong partnerships with transit agencies such as King County Metro and Sound Transit to ensure a coordinated approach to electrifying public transit. By collaborating, these agencies are laying the groundwork for the long-term electrification of Seattle’s transportation network. This effort is driven by a commitment to environmental and climate justice, ensuring that the transition to electric transit benefits everyone, particularly those in underserved communities.
Advancing the Transition to a Zero-Emissions Bus Fleet
One of the key initiatives in Seattle’s electrification efforts is the transition to a zero-emissions bus fleet. King County Metro aims to operate an all-electric fleet of battery-operated, fixed-route buses by 2035. Seattle City Light has been a vital partner in this goal, supporting infrastructure development and the deployment of electric charging stations. By 2022, 40 battery-electric buses were already in service, with more planned in the future. City Light will continue to support Metro’s growing fleet, as well as other zero-emission transit options like paratransit vans and water taxis.
Washington State Ferries (WSF), the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the state’s transportation system, is also transitioning to electric-powered ferries. Beginning in 2023, WSF will phase in electric-hybrid ferries that will drastically reduce pollution in Seattle’s waterfront. By 2040, the shift to electric ferries will cut maritime carbon emissions by 76%. Seattle City Light is partnering with WSF to establish the first electrified ferry terminal at Colman Dock and will continue to work on expanding this initiative. Additionally, other terminals and water taxis are being explored for electrification, contributing to a cleaner, greener future for Seattle’s waterfront.
