Main Street Station Electrification

Since opening in 2016, Main Street Station has been the underground epicenter of public transit in downtown Boise, serving most local routes from an accessible, welcoming, and efficient hub that featuring an indoor waiting area, public restrooms, a customer service desk, public art, and a bicycle locker. Since then, Main Street Station has continued to evolve as VRT’s flagship transit center and community asset:

2019: The journey toward electrification began when VRT was awarded $3 million from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for the purchase of VRT’s first battery-electric buses, which began service in 2021 – the first electric buses in Idaho.

2021: The City of Boise adopted its Climate Action Roadmap and VRT committed to further expansion of battery electric buses.

Spring 2022: VRT received $1.92 million for three 35-foot electric buses to replace compressed natural gas (CNG) buses. As VRT began diversifying the way buses are powered, so came the need for an on-route charging facility to support the electric part of the fleet. Main Street Station was identified as a critical charging facility for VRT services in VRT’s electrification transition plan.

Fall 2022: VRT received a $17.4 million Low or No Emission Vehicle grant from the FTA to purchase more battery electric vehicles and fund the construction activities necessary transform Main Street Station into a charging depot, including a significant power upgrade from a new transformer and electrical switch gear to power the overhead chargers.

2025: VRT began substantial construction at Main Street Station to install on route overhead electric charging infrastructure, a new layer of capability for this downtown hub. Buses normally boarding downstairs were temporarily relocated to nearby stops along 9th Street and Main Street while installation progressed, with station amenities like the waiting area and Customer Service remaining open to riders.

For more than a decade, Main Street Station has anchored Valley Regional Transit’s mission to connect riders across Boise and the Treasure Valley – and now, it’s electric.

At the core of the Main Street Station charging system are four pantographic chargers, rapid-charging arms that descend from the ceiling and connect to batteries on the roof of the bus. The pantographs deliver a high-voltage boost when buses return to Main Street Station and during driver breaks, giving the vehicles enough range to complete their trips. Rather than sending buses back to the Ada County Operations & Maintenance Facility, located near the Boise Airport, the quick charge at MSS increases efficiency and reduces wear-and-tear. The system also integrates smart software that balances energy loads and reports diagnostics in real-time.

Main Street Station electrification was made possible by a combination of competitive federal grants and local match contributions from local partners.

VRT was awarded a $17.4 million Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Low or No Emission Vehicle Program grant in 2022, funding the new charging infrastructure and the purchase of seven 35’ GILLIG battery-electric buses.

VRT also leveraged other awards, including a U.S. Department of Transportation RAISE grant supporting system-wide corridor and charger improvements.

The Main Street Station electrification is more than a standalone upgrade. It’s a culmination of planning, funding, and partnerships built over years and fits within a larger vision for more efficient public transportation by:

• Leveraging federal grants that began with VRT’s first electric buses and charging infrastructure award, enabling later projects like overhead on‑route chargers.
• Aligning with route-specific upgrades, such as State Street improvements under the RAISE program, that connect high‑quality transit into broader regional mobility goals.
• Paving the way for additional system improvements. In July 2024, VRT was awarded a competitive FTA Bus and Bus Facilities Grant for the proposed Towne Square Mall Transit Center Electrification and Rehabilitation Project, including new electric buses, electric charging infrastructure, and upgraded passenger and operator amenities.