Start initial application: this initial application includes $3144455 in FY 2023 section 5339(a) bus and bus facilities formula funding for trimet to fund construction activities at powell…

The Federal Transit Administration awarded Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) $3.93 million on March 19, 2026, under the Buses and Bus Facilities Formula, Competitive, and Low or No Emissions Programs (CFDA 20.526) for construction activities at Powell Operations Facility to accommodate hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles.

TriMet will retrofit building exhaust and electrical systems and install monitoring and detection components at the facility to support the deployment of hydrogen buses beginning in 2027, replacing existing diesel buses. The environmental review process concluded on June 26, 2025, clearing the construction phase to proceed. This award includes $3.144 million in FY 2023 Section 5339(a) bus and bus facilities formula funding and is consistent with a sub-apportionment letter executed March 24, 2023, among TriMet, C-TRAN, and SMART. A related Section 5339(c) Low or No Emissions Vehicle Deployment grant (OR-2025-016) also supports hydrogen bus procurement and facility improvements.

Work will be performed in Oregon, with a period of performance extending through February 28, 2029. TriMet does not intend to subaward funds. The expected outcome is reduced energy consumption and harmful emissions from TriMet's transit fleet while improving service reliability and passenger capacity.

Activities

This initial award is to use federal funds to fund construction activities at powell operations facility.

Expected outcomes

By deploying hydrogen buses in place of existing diesel buses trimet will reduce the energy consumption and harmful emissions with its fleet. Improvements at powell operations facility such as retrofit of building exhaust and electrical systems and monitoring and detection components are needed to accommodate the new hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles being purchase in 2027.

Intended beneficiaries

By deploying hydrogen buses in place of the existing diesel buses trimet will reduce the energy consumption and harmful emissions associated with its fleet. The new buses will also increase trimets service reliability and passenger capacity.

Subrecipient activities

The recipient does not intend to subaward funds.