SDOT is pleased that King County Metro riders are getting around in the new electric trolleys in downtown Seattle and nearby neighborhoods. You may have seen, or been on one of the new purple-accented electric trolleys that serves Seattle. King County Metro introduced the first completely new state-of-the-art electric trolleys in nearly 30 years this month.
The new trolleys are quiet, energy-efficient and emissions-free and use an estimated 20 to 30 percent less energy than the current electric trolley buses. They have regenerative braking that puts energy back into the trolley.
The first five of 174 replacement trolley buses went into service last week and the remaining trolleys will be phased in over the next two years. The new trolleys have the ability to go off-wire for short distances to detour around construction zones and other obstacles and stay on schedule. The buses also have passenger-activated back doors for easier exiting, air conditioning and low floors for easier boarding and exiting.
For useful travelers information, here’s SDOT’s Getting Around Seattle link.