The consultant will spearhead crucial battery-electric bus charging infrastructure upgrades at the South Base Maintenance and Bus Yard and the replacement of 12 traction power substations along the MAX Blue Line.
SamTrans procured 37 BEBs to replace end-of-life diesel buses, prompting the urgent need for charging infrastructure at its South Base division.
Photo: SamTrans
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STV signed contracts with California’s San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) to spearhead crucial battery-electric bus (BEB) charging infrastructure upgrades at the District’s South Base Maintenance and Bus Yard and Portland, Ore.’s TriMet to spearhead the replacement of 12 traction power substations along the District’s Metropolitan Area Express (MAX) Blue Line.
The SamTrans BEB Transition
The agency recently procured 37 BEBs to replace end-of-life diesel buses, prompting the urgent need for charging infrastructure at its South Base division.
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The project is a key element of SamTrans’ Innovative Clean Transit Plan, which guides the District’s transition to a 100% zero-emission fleet.
Aiming to establish a total of 147 bus charging stations at South Base, the ambitious endeavor will be executed in two phases, with Phase 1 focusing on the first 37 stations and Phase 2 incorporating the remaining 110 stations.
STV will provide comprehensive engineering and architectural design services for all 147 charging stations, along with charging infrastructure, transit operations, maintenance equipment, and transit technology.
STV’s SamTrans Contract
STV secured this project as its first task order under its current six-year general engineering on-call contract with SamTrans, awarded in June 2023.
The project represents an integral component of California’s broader efforts to advance zero-emission transportation and combat climate change.
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TriMet aims to enhance availability, equipment access, reliability, and overall safety, while reducing ongoing maintenance costs and the risk of service disruptions.
Photo: TriMet
TriMet’s MAX Blue Line Project
The MAX Blue Line represents the longest route in TriMet’s light rail network, spanning approximately 33 miles and serving 48 stations between Hillsboro, Beaverton, Portland, and Gresham.
Originally installed in 1983, the Blue Line’s substations are nearing the end of their expected service lives. By undertaking their replacement, TriMet aims to enhance availability, equipment access, reliability, and overall safety, while reducing ongoing maintenance costs and the risk of service disruptions.
STV will oversee the substations’ structural, civil, and systems design, as well as project controls for traction power design and civil site improvements. The firm will also provide overall project management, leading a team of eight consultants.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.
