Plans For Electric Bus Charging Station Approved By County Supervisors

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — The Board of Supervisors approved plans Tuesday for the construction of a 19-space electric bus charging facility at Sonoma County Transit on West Robles Avenue in Santa Rosa.

The new facility will provide charging for 30-foot, 35-foot, and 40-foot battery-electric transit buses in compliance with state regulations that require transit operators to transition their fleets to zero-emission vehicles by 2040. Sonoma County Transit currently has nine electric buses in its fleet of 49 buses.

“This project is a direct investment in the health and well-being of our communities, now and in the future,” said Supervisor Chris Coursey, chair of the Board of Supervisors. “It reflects our commitment to leading on zero-emission public transportation and stands as an important example of local government doing its part to ensure access to both clean air and reliable transportation across our communities.”

The new facility is expected to have the capacity to charge up to 32 vehicles overnight, plus a natural gas-powered generator with the capacity to charge 10 buses in the event of a power disruption. In January, supervisors authorized the purchase of 10 additional 40-foot electric buses, including charging equipment.

The facility will cost roughly $4.8 million and is funded by a combination of local Transportation Development Act funds and state Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program funds, county officials said.

Anvil Builders out of Emeryville was chosen as the project contractor following a competitive bidding process. The project is expected to be completed by June 2024, the county said.