Announcements

SEATTLE— Conversion of bus base facilities, the heart of transit operations, for electric vehicle charging is a large-scale project with many players and complex needs. One option for transit agencies working to shift to a zero-emission fleet is a public-private partnership model (P3), which defers upfront capital construction costs and has the potential to help agencies meet long-term sustainability and resiliency goals.

New research out of the Mobility Innovation Center at the University of Washington (UW), led by professor Hyun Woo “Chris” Lee and senior research scientist Laura Osburn of the Department of Construction Management in UW’s College of Built Environments, explored this possibility and highlighted opportunities and challenges. The team found that P3, a practice common to infrastructure projects like toll roads could apply to transit electrification. The team also looked to existing transit facility conversion projects that have used P3 to glean best practices.

“There is not a one-size-fits-all approach for P3, and it may not be a solution for every project, but there are some public agencies that have used elements of this project delivery method successfully,” said Lee, lead author for the study. “What we’ve learned from some of the early adopters can serve as a template for others to consider.”

P3 explained

Employing a public-private partnership (P3) can reduce upfront capital construction costs and accelerate development for publicly owned infrastructure projects. In exchange for assuming the risk for project financing and delivery, a private entity will have the opportunity to recover its investment and potentially profit with a revenue stream for an agreed-upon operational period.

Through interviews with industry experts and a review of contracting documents and existing laws, the research team analyzed agencies that have used P3 or elements of P3 in transit procurement and gleaned learnings that may be helpful to local agencies pursuing a battery-electric bus fleet.

“We’re applying an innovative and creative approach to reach our zero emissions goals, “said King County Metro General Manager Michelle Allison. “Right now, we’re designing and building the infrastructure to deliver the sustainable transit our communities are asking for. Our partnership with the Mobility Innovation Center helps us understand what’s possible for our region’s future.”

The report highlights challenges for transit electrification: the need for a trained and skilled workforce to operate and manage on-site high-voltage electrical systems; the potential difficulties affecting a utility provider’s ability to meet the project timeline; and the likely need for on-site microgrids for charging demand and resiliency.

Other key findings include:

• P3 can be used to redevelop a publicly owned facility, such as a bus base, for electrification in Washington and other states such as California, Maryland, and Rhode Island. Although some laws do not explicitly prohibit the use, legislation may be needed to support the practice.
• In addition to financing needs, considerations for using P3 or elements of P3 include technology ownership for energy storage, charging and management, and how to support a qualified workforce for operating and maintaining facilities.
• With greater demand for utility providers to upgrade transmission line capacity, bus base conversions will likely require the development and management of an on-site microgrid to deliver the electricity needed in the timeline required.
• Engagement with internal stakeholders and coordination with represented labor and external partners will help define the needs, desired outcomes, and support requirements ahead of advertising and executing a P3 agreement.

“The energy transition for transportation and the future of transit requires new ideas and collaboration to unlock what’s possible,” said Bart Treece, director of UW’s Mobility Innovation Center. “Academic partners play a crucial role in long-term infrastructure projects, and the work this research team accomplished has value for transit agencies in Seattle and beyond.”

About the Department of Construction Management at the University of Washington:

The Department of Construction Management prepares students for careers in the built environment by providing high-quality education, conducting research that will benefit the construction industry, and offering service to the community.

About the Mobility Innovation Center at the University of Washington:

UW CoMotion and Challenge Seattle have partnered with regional transportation agencies to establish the multidisciplinary Mobility Innovation Center, which brings together the industry’s leading expertise from business, government, nonprofits, and academia to develop technologies and explore creative solutions that have the potential to change the way we move people, information, and goods.

Housed at UW CoMotion, the Mobility Innovation Center helps partners scope near-term transportation projects that address critical challenges through data-based insights and applied research.

About King County Metro

The largest public transportation agency in the Puget Sound region, King County Metro provides bus, on-demand, paratransit, vanpool, and water taxi services, and operates Seattle Streetcar, Sound Transit Link light rail and Sound Transit Express. In 2022, the Federal Transit Administration recognized Metro’s climate plan as the nation’s most equitable in tackling climate change.

Media Contacts:

Bart Treece, Director of the Mobility Innovation Center, btreece@uw.edu

Donna R. O’Neill, CoMotion Director of Marketing and Communications, donnao3@uw.edu

Al Sanders, Public Information Officer, King County Metro, asanders@kingcounty.gov

##