The San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) has agreed a contract to install large-scale charging facilities to support its growing number of battery-electric buses.
At its August meeting, the SamTrans Board of Directors approved a 36.3 million USD agreement with Clark Construction Group to build new charging systems at the South Base operations and maintenance site in San Carlos. The scheme will equip the depot with high-capacity chargers, overhead pantograph dispensers, and upgraded electrical and communications networks.
The initial phase will provide charging for 37 battery-electric buses currently based at South Base. The design also allows for expansion, with the ability to accommodate up to 110 additional zero-emission vehicles in future.
SamTrans Director of Infrastructure, Zhiming Fan, said:This investment is about more than just buses — it’s about cleaner air, healthier communities and a more sustainable future for San Mateo County. By building the infrastructure now, we’re ensuring that zero-emission transit will be the backbone of our service for decades to come.
The plan also covers improvements to the South Base entrance. The work will be delivered under a Project Labour Agreement with local unions, which includes provisions on employment standards and community benefits.
Funding for the project combines federal and state sources, including the Federal Transit Administration, the Bay Area Air District, the California Local Partner Programme Competitive fund, and the Low Carbon Transit Operations Programme. To reflect new grant awards, the board has also increased the 2026 Capital Budget by $13.9 million.
Construction is due to begin later in 2025. Once completed, the facilities will enable SamTrans to extend its zero-emission services, with anticipated benefits for air quality and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions across the communities it serves.
SamTrans began introducing zero-emission vehicles through its Innovative Clean Transit Plan, developed in line with California Air Resources Board requirements for all transit operators to transition to fully zero-emission fleets by 2040.
