SMART to Unveil Oregon’s Two New Battery-Electric Buses at 30-Year Anniversary Celebration

April 30, 2019 - South Metro Area Regional Transit (SMART) is celebrating 30 years of independent service with a celebration event at the Wilsonville Transit Center on June 26, 4-6 pm, that features a SMART milestone – the unveiling of the agency’s first zero-emission battery-electric buses.

A 2017 Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) Section 5339c grant award of $1.45 million funded the new buses, supported by a $400,000 match from the City of Wilsonville. SMART was the only transit agency in Oregon to earn a competitive grant under the $55 million FY 2017-18 Low or No Emission Vehicle Program.

“SMART’s ability to successfully procure federal funding is enriching the lives of Wilsonville residents and commuters in any number of ways,” Mayor Tim Knapp said. “The new buses provide added value for Wilsonville’s taxpayers, provide a quieter commute and advance the City Council’s goal to move our transit system in the direction of sustainable energy sources.”

SMART seeks to be a leader among urban transit agencies by making the transition to alternative fuel, with goals of 50% alternative fuel usage by 2022 and 100% by 2028.  The agency partnered with the Oregon Department of Transportation, the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE), and bus manufacturer Proterra on the successful grant application.

“We’re proud of this considerable achievement, which is an important step toward protecting our environment by reducing our reliance on fossil fuels,” SMART Transit Director Dwight Brashear said. “We’re pleased to begin our fourth decade of service to Wilsonville with two state-of-the-art vehicles that are among the first battery-electric buses in Oregon.”

The highly-anticipated new additions are scheduled to arrive from Proterra’s assembly plant in southern California in mid-May. Two Proterra charging ports, powered by Portland General Electric, have already been installed at SMART’s headquarters; they can be expanded to eventually accommodate six buses as the electric fleet expands.  Next year, SMART is scheduled to receive a third electric bus, funded by the consolidation of unspent block grants.

Fleet Manager Scott Simonton wrote SMART’s successful Section 5339c grant proposal and coordinated construction of the charging system with PGE, technical consultants, and other stakeholders.

“Getting these state-of-the-art buses on the road and developing our infrastructure to take advantage of alternative energy sources is a win for SMART passengers, for the City of Wilsonville and for the health of our climate,” Simonton said. “The new buses are quieter, they cost less to operate, and are less expensive to maintain.”

The new 28-passenger buses are being dressed with vinyl decals to be installed by Wilsonville’s Gillespie Graphics. Students from Wilsonville High School and Arts & Technology High School designed the SMART-branded wrap; they are being recognized for their contribution at the bus unveiling.

“The students impressed us with beautiful, hand-drawn designs that showcase iconic Wilsonville locations,” Brashear said. “I hope these young artists enjoy seeing their artistic achievement rolling through town for a very long time.”

SMART’s celebration provides an opportunity for the City to show appreciation for elected officials who formally pledged support for the successful grant application to the FTA. Clackamas County Commissioner Chair Jim Bernard, Metro Council President Tom Hughes, Oregon State Senator Kim Thatcher, U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici and Kurt Schrader and U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley are among those who penned letters of support for SMART.

The event program includes light refreshments, including homemade ice cream by Jr. Scoop, an entrepreneurial enterprise of Wood Middle School. Jr. Scoop is developing two custom flavors for the celebration: Electric Chip and Pistachio Power Sorbet.

On June 27, the day after the unveiling, the City’s newest buses begin service to SMART passengers on Route 4 crosstown service, which travels primarily along Wilsonville Road, and includes service to Graham Oak Nature Park, the Town Center Loop and Wilsonville High School.

For more information about the event, contact SMART at 503-682-7790 or visit ridesmart.com.

About SMART Transit

South Metro Area Regional Transit (SMART) is a Wilsonville-based agency established in 1989 to provide an independent City-owned transit system serving Wilsonville and nearby areas. SMART operates free fixed-route service within Wilsonville and also provides service to and from Canby, Tualatin, Salem, and South Portland. SMART’s Dial-a-Ride program provides door-to-door service within Wilsonville and medical transport services to nearby cities for those with disabilities or mobility issues. SMART’s 30-vehicle fleet supports about 300,000 passenger trips annually; the agency’s consumer satisfaction scores were among the highest recorded from 200+ communities participating in the 2018 National Citizen Survey.

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