The future of cleaner, more sustainable public transportation is coming to Metro’s new Northern Bus Garage as the first to have an all zero-emission bus fleet when it opens. Metro General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Randy Clarke made the announcement today during a groundbreaking event for the Northern Bus Garage Reconstruction Project, joined by FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, Councilmember Janeese Lewis George and community members.
Metro is rebuilding the historic 14th Street garage into a modern, environmentally friendly facility funded in part by a grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Construction is expected to be complete in 2027. The garage will include the infrastructure to support an all-electric fleet and only zero-emission buses will operate out of the new garage.
“We are focused on providing a Better Bus experience for our customers, one that is environmentally friendly, more efficient, and better serves the region’s needs,” said Metro GM and CEO Clarke. “This is just the start of our investment to bring zero-emission technology to #YourMetro as we replace fossil fuels with clean technology that will power our fleet of 1600 buses.”
Metro is also purchasing 12 electric buses that will run out of the Shepherd Parkway Bus Division in the District as part of our Battery-Electric Bus Test and Evaluation Program, including two buses funded through a $4.2 million FTA Low-No Grant.
The conversion of Northern Bus Garage and other Metro facilities to support zero-emission technology is key to achieving Metro’s goal of a zero-emission bus fleet. In 2021, Metro’s Board of Directors adopted goals to transition to all zero-emission buses by 2045, which aligns with the 2018 Clean Energy DC Act requiring 100% of public buses to be zero-emission by 2045.
“WMATA is an important partner not just in our work to connect DC and the region, but in our work to build a more sustainable and resilient DC,” said Mayor Bowser. “Ensuring we have a public transportation system that is safe, reliable, and efficient also means ensuring we have a system that keeps up with our environmental goals. And this new bus garage is helping us build a greener and cleaner DC.”
The rebuilt Northern Bus Garage will replace the century old facility with a modern, LEED-certified garage that will have the capacity to house up to 150 zero-emission buses. The new bus facility will maintain the historic façade, while adding retail space, streetscape improvements and a community room for local meetings.
In addition to the Northern Bus Garage, the new Bladensburg and Western bus garages are also being planned and designed to support the transition to a zero-emission fleet.
To learn more, visit the Northern Bus Garage Reconstruction Project page for additional project details, and visit Metro’s Zero-Emission Bus Program page for more about the transition to a zero-emission bus fleet.