Thursday, November 14, 2024

Congresswoman Kim Schrier visits Link Transit, celebrating massive federal grant success

Posted

WENATCHEE– Congresswoman Kim Schrier toured Link Transit's extensive headquarters, taking a closer look at the crucial public transport service's site. 

The friendly visit comes after the Federal Transportation Administration awarded Link $4.5 million in Low- and No-Emission Bus and Bus Facility funding, thanks to Schrier’s close work in bringing up NCW issues with the FTA and other federal legislative agencies, such as the US Department of Transportation. 

“This is just so exciting,” Schrier commented, “here in particular, with an abundance of energy and pre-existing infrastructure with induction chargers, and now more buses to add to a fleet that is non-emitting.”

Link Transit is one of the major electric bus users in the country and the first in the nation to use BYD electric buses. Congresswoman Schrier sees a major benefit to this local pioneering within the world of clean technology and the rapid expansion Link Transit has undergone in the last decade.

“And I just think that Link Transit in Wenatchee is a leader in this and expanding it to so many outside towns in order to even bring more of the workforce to work, which just expands opportunities. I love it,” Schrier said with a smile.

Link Transit CEO Nick Covey headed the afternoon tour, welcoming Schrier and giving her a presentation on everything Link Transit does within its partnered communities. This included an overview of contributions to projects like Leavenworth’s Icicle Road Roundabout and the ongoing TREAD pathways design study aimed at connecting local communities across NCW. 

As Link Transit looks toward the future and expands its services, it seeks to meet the needs of each community it operates in. 

As Covey puts it, Link is “looking at, ‘how do we get more involved with recreation’?” 

For areas like Leavenworth and Wenatchee, this means providing service for popular trailheads like Saddle Rock. For other places within NCW, Link Transit hopes to connect services to smaller communities like Chelan Falls. 

As Congresswoman Schrier toured Link Transit’s comprehensive facilities, she shared laughs with Facilities and Maintenance Manager Ed Archer and the Link Transit administrative team, marking a successful day of making connections and celebrating crucial funds.

As the tour wrapped up, CEO Covey expressed his gratitude for Representative Schrier’s work and dedication to Link Transit’s clean energy goals.

“Having representative Schrier come down here is great,” Covey said. “We are proud of what we do, and we want to show it off. And we’ve had so much support from the federal and state level because what we have done, we are the leaders in the battery electric industry, and it makes sense for us in this community.” 

Able to purchase five new vehicles with the help of this recent funding, Link Transit is now capable of electrifying its entire fixed-route fleet, further eliminating harmful emissions within all of North Central Washington. With continued support, Link Transit hopes to expand further, providing local communities with higher levels of local job opportunities while connecting the entire region together.

Will Nilles: (509) 731-3211 or will@ward.media

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here