METRO Rolls Out Electric Buses on Two Local Routes

As of September 1, passengers on the 402 Bellaire Quickline and the 28 OST - Wayside are experiencing a quieter, smoother ride during their commute thanks to METRO's rollout of zero-emission electric buses.

As part of the service change, the 402 Bellaire Quickline transitioned to an all-electric fleet while the 28 OST - Wayside has five electric buses. The pilot project represents a significant step toward enhancing customer experience, improving service reliability, and reducing environmental impact.

The 402 Bellaire Quickline runs from Chinatown to the Medical Center, serving Southwest Houston, Gulfton, and the City of Bellaire. The 28 OST-Wayside route serves neighborhoods like Fifth Ward, which has historically faced air pollution challenges.

“These improvements are an investment in our customers. The new electric buses meet our broader goals of ensuring the system is accessible, equitable, and helps us close environmental justice gaps,” said METRO Board Chair Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock. “Both routes service some communities that include minority, low-income, and transit-dependent populations. It is so important we provide these customers with an easy and safe choice that they will be excited to ride.”

In addition to the environmental benefits, the buses offer enhanced features, including USB charging ports, three wheelchair securement areas, and more space for ADA patrons—upgrades from the aging fleets serving both routes.

METRO’s Director of Technical Services Andrei Dragomir oversaw the procurement and rigorous testing of the new buses, which began in June 2024.

“We put the buses out there empty first. We ran them on the route to check for defects, performance, and range,” said Dragomir. “After we found no issues, we decided to test them with passengers.”

The selection of these routes was based on several factors, including the populations served, potential charging locations, and whether all or most buses on the route could be electric.

Moving away from diesel is a key component of the Authority’s initiative to build a more sustainable and efficient transit system.

While the agency already has more than 400 clean-running diesel-electric hybrid buses, a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant will ensure METRO has 20 electric buses and 14 hydrogen fuel cell electric buses in total in the coming years.

Dragomir anticipates the first hydrogen fuel cell buses arriving in late 2025 or early 2026. The buses will also undergo similar testing to determine the most suitable routes and necessary infrastructure to support them.