For 84 years, Seattle’s trolleybuses have been a staple of King County Metro, carrying nearly 20% of its riders. However, as the agency transitions to battery-electric buses, the role of these workhorses is being questioned.
Historical Context and Recent Developments
In March, Seattle City Light announced the groundbreaking of Metro’s first bus base dedicated to battery-electric buses in Tukwila. Their social media post highlighted the advent of electric buses in Seattle, overlooking the fact that trolleybuses have been operational since 1940.
The Tukwila base is central to Metro’s goal of becoming an all-electric transit agency by 2035. Despite this, the importance of trolleybuses seems diminished in public discourse. In 2023, the 14 trolley routes, all within Seattle, accounted for 19.5% of systemwide riders but only 16% of Metro’s platform hours.
Challenges in Transition
A King County Auditor report released in June identified several obstacles in Metro’s electrification plan. Key concerns included the limited number of bus manufacturers in the US and the underperformance of battery electric buses compared to diesel-hybrid ones. Metro is exploring alternatives like hydrogen buses due to these limitations.
While trolleybuses present a viable solution for certain routes, their expansion is scarcely addressed. The report mentions potential trolley expansion in 2027, but these plans remain preliminary.
Specific Route Concerns
Route 48, a significant frequent route, has yet to see promised upgrades. A 2014 study confirmed the financial and environmental benefits of converting Route 48 to a trolley, which required only a 1.7-mile gap to be filled. Despite preparatory infrastructure added during the 23rd Avenue rebuild, the project faces delays, now projected to start in 2027.
Recent and Future Projects
The forthcoming RapidRide G Line on Madison Street will not feature trolleybuses due to manufacturing limitations. Instead, it will use diesel-hybrids. Metro plans to return Route 12 to trolley service and aims to add 20 new trolleybuses by 2027, supporting both Route 48 and potentially increasing service on existing routes.
Metro’s long-range plan, Metro Connects, envisions significant fleet expansion, which without trolleybuses, would rely heavily on battery-electric buses. This approach risks service limitations due to the current performance issues of battery-electric buses.
Strategic Considerations and Future Outlook
Metro’s spokesperson Jeff Switzer highlighted the barriers to expanding the trolley network, including infrastructure costs and the need for high bus traffic volumes on certain streets. Metro is evaluating routes where battery-electric buses may underperform, and where in-motion charging could be utilized.
Despite these challenges, Metro acknowledges the critical role of trolleybuses in its zero-emissions strategy. Advancing the trolley network expansion will require strong collaboration between Metro, the City of Seattle, and the County Council. Until then, the trolley system remains underutilized, not reaching its full potential.
This article underscores the importance of trolleybuses in Seattle’s transit history and their potential role in a sustainable future, amid the complexities of transitioning to newer electric vehicle technologies.