PSE helps fund electric bus for Muckleshoot Indian Tribe community

An electric charger was also installed to charge the bus

BELLEVUE, Wash. (7/20/2021) Puget Sound Energy is lending support to the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe for the purchase of a 12-passenger electric bus that will be used by the Tribe’s Transportation Department.

PSE Up & Go Electric also installed and will maintain a 50-kilowatt DC fast charger that will allow the bus to recharge efficiently during its breaks.

The 12-passenger electric bus, with two ADA accessible seats, will be part of the free express shuttle bus service that transports community members along a route from the White River Amphitheatre to downtown Auburn.

The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe established its Department of Transportation in 2016 after a community needs survey found Tribal members were walking along SR 164 – a 50 mile per hour highway with only six-inch shoulders – due to the expense of transit for those on a limited income. In order to reduce pedestrian-safety incidents and increase transportation access, the Tribal Transportation program now supplements multiple mobility needs for its community members.

“The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe have a well-respected and impressive transportation program, stemming from their commitment to community service and the well-being of their members. Partnering with them on this project is an honor and made sense because it fits our values of doing what’s right,” said Will Einstein, PSE Director of Product Development and Growth. “This project is part of how we are working with multiple service providers across the state to improve access to electric mobility for underserved customers and better distribute the environmental, social and economic benefits of electric transportation.”

The implementation of the additional express shuttle will be utilized in a new transit route and make it more feasible for community members to choose safer methods of transportation instead of feeling pressured to walk along a dangerous highway in order to make it to their destination on time.

“Protecting the environment while providing transportation services for our people are key objectives for the tribe. This project illustrates that we can accomplish both objectives by working with entities like Puget Sound Energy,” said Jaison Elkins, Muckleshoot Tribal Council Chairman. “This project is an exciting undertaking.”

PSE is committed to working together to create a clean energy future for all while setting an aspirational goal to be a Beyond Net Zero Carbon company by 2045. PSE will target reducing its own carbon emissions to net zero and go beyond by helping other sectors to enable carbon reduction across the state of Washington. Partnering with our customers like this helps PSE engage more people in that mission.

PSE Up & Go Electric wants to make it as easy possible for our customers to save money and help the environment by electrifying their transportation. To learn more about electric vehicles and Up & Go Electric, visit pse.com/electricvehicles.

 

Media Contact:

Andrew Padula, 1-888-831-7250, psenewsroom@pse.com

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