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Metro’s new Tukwila Base
Tukwila Base will be King County Metro’s first 100% zero-emissions bus base and the agency’s first large-scale construction of a charging facility for battery-electric buses (BEBs). This new base will serve as a pilot to inform how to convert and operate Metro’s seven other bus bases into battery-electric compatible facilities. Tukwila Base will build on the lessons learned from Metro’s South Base Test Facility and signals Metro’s continued commitment and journey towards a zero-emissions (ZE) fleet.
The path to a name
In 2017, Metro started planning an “Interim Base” as a temporary facility at South Campus. By 2020, as Metro sped up its transition to a zero-emissions fleet, these plans changed to create Metro’s first fully electrified base and its first new permanent base in decades. And a permanent base needs a permanent name. After careful review by community and several Metro teams, including Zero Emissions, Government Relations and Community Engagement, the name “Tukwila Base” emerged as the top choice. The new name honors the legacy of the neighborhoods that this facility will connect and the critical service that transit provides.
Base location
Tukwila Base is located next to King County Metro’s existing South Base in Tukwila, Washington. This location was selected in order to focus zero-emission service in the communities of south King County that have been more greatly impacted by fossil fuel pollution than other Puget Sound neighborhoods.
Property details
- 544,000 square feet
- 10 megawatts (MW) of power from Seattle City Light
- 120 Battery-Electric Buses (BEBs)
- 123 BEB Pantograph Chargers
A soft launch
Fall 2025 to spring 2026
Following the completion of major construction, Metro will initiate a soft launch, where the base will only be open to Metro employees. This period will allow all impacted divisions the opportunity to evaluate, adapt and improve business processes related to zero-emission buses before the base starts official operations.
The soft launch will run from fall 2025 to spring 2026. During this period, we will focus on preparing for the site transition, conducting process and procedure checks, expanding workforce training, and carrying out practice exercises. Expected outcomes include improved safety and security, enhanced employee readiness, greater operational efficiency, and the establishment of a positive organizational culture.
Base Activation Team
Staff from every division at Metro are working together to ensure the successful construction and operational readiness of Tukwila Base. We are supported in this effort by a variety of agency, consultant and vendor partners.
Agency Partners: City of Tukwila; Federal Transit Administration; Seattle City Light; Washington State Department of Enterprise Services (DES).
Consultant & Vendor Partners: ABB, BL Iron, Car Media Lab, Cochran, Gillig, LPD Engineering, LundOpsal, McKinstry, New Flyer, Rolluda Architects, Schunk, Stantec, Tunista, Zemek Construction
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2022
Planning and conceptual design completed.
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2024
Engineering design completed, groundbreaking and beginning of construction.
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2025
Substantial completion of construction and beginning of soft launch.
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2026
Base opens and begins operations.