WMATA’s updated transition plan to deliver zero-emission fleet three years faster

March 24, 2023

Half of WMATA’s fleet will be zero emission in 10 years and five of its nine garages will support zero-emission vehicles by 2031.

Mischa Wanek-Libman

An electric bus that will enter service as part of WMATA's Electric Bus Test and Evaluation .

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) published its Zero-Emission Bus Transition Plan Thursday that will accelerate the adoption and integration of zero-emission vehicles and infrastructure into its fleet by 2042. The timeline to transition the 1,600-vehicle fleet to zero emissions is three years faster than the 2045 target included in the original fleet transition strategy approved by the WMATA Board in June 2021 .

The authority plans to have five of the nine garages needed to support a zero-emission fleet in operation by 2031. The Northern Bus Garage will be the first to open in 2027 with capacity to support 150 zero-emission buses. WMATA started construction on Northern Bus Garage in January and followed by Bladensburg Garage in early March. By 2033, a sixth garage will open and half of WMATA’s fleet is expected to be zero emission. The remaining three garages will open by 2041.

WMATA anticipates the lifecycle costs of transitioning to a fully zero-emission fleet through Fiscal Year 2055 to be $7.37 billion, which is $2.3 billion above what anticipated lifecycle costs of its internal combustion engine fleet would be through the same period.

An infographic detailing anticipated key milestones on WMATA's zero-emission transition timeline.

The agency says it will “aggressively pursue funding” opportunities at the local, state and federal levels to support its planned zero-emission transition. WMATA is also exploring how to collaborate with neighboring agencies to reduce costs and duplicative efforts.

"We will continue to look for ways to further accelerate the transition to zero-emission buses, which provide customers with the same safe, reliable service at a much smaller carbon footprint," said WMATA General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Randy Clarke. "Every trip taken with Metro instead of a car reduces greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to zero-emission buses will deliver additional environmental and health benefits while improving the quality of life for people across the region."

In addition to starting construction on the Northern and Bladensburg Garages, WMATA has taken steps to start its Electric Bus Test and Evaluation that will analyze 10 buses from two manufacturers. The authority awarded two contracts to procure these 10 battery-electric buses to New Flyer of America and Nova Bus. The companies will deliver five buses each in 2024.

WMATA explains it will initially deploy battery-electric buses, which is the more developed and cost-effective technology at this time, but will continue to evaluate hydrogen fuel cell technology as its commercial viability evolves.

About the Author

Mischa Wanek-Libman | Editor in Chief

Mischa Wanek-Libman serves as editor in chief of Mass Transit magazine. She is responsible for developing and maintaining the magazine’s editorial direction and is based in the western suburbs of Chicago.

Wanek-Libman has spent more than 20 years covering transportation issues including construction projects and engineering challenges for various commuter railroads and transit agencies. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.

She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and serves as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.

She is a graduate of Drake University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a major in magazine journalism and a minor in business management.