Summit County Transit is developing a new 73,218-square-foot fleet storage and operations facility in Frisco, Colorado to support current operations and the future transition to a 100% battery electric bus fleet. The approximately $44 million facility includes climate-controlled bus storage, maintenance and wash bays, administrative offices, and charging infrastructure capable of supporting more than 40 electric buses. Kimley-Horn served as the lead engineering consultant, providing civil, structural, transit, roadway, utility coordination, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and landscape architecture services. The multidisciplinary design delivers a resilient, future-ready facility that supports fleet growth, operational efficiency, and long-term sustainability goals. Project Problem Summit County Transit’s existing infrastructure could not accommodate the operational, maintenance, and charging requirements of a large battery electric bus fleet. A more modern facility was needed to accommodate growth and transition to zero-emission transit service. The facility also needed to remain adaptable to future fleet and technology advancements and consider a critical housing component to attract operational staff. Designing a facility that meets all these needs was challenging due to the highaltitude mountain environment with severe winter weather, heavy snowfall, limited construction seasons, and complex utility and charging infrastructure requirements. Project Solution Kimley-Horn began the project with a comprehensive assessment of Summit County Transit’s fleet operations, facility needs, and electric fleet readiness. This early evaluation informed an integrated engineering approach that aligned facility planning, site development, utility coordination, and fleet electrification strategies from the outset. The resulting design incorporates charging-ready infrastructure, resilient utility systems, and flexible expansion opportunities while also including 10 second-floor residential units for bus operators and County staff, helping address workforce housing needs in Summit County’s highcost mountain community. Project Results The facility positions Summit County Transit to support a fully electric fleet while providing reliable transportation services for residents, employees, and visitors throughout Summit County. The project establishes a model for sustainable transit infrastructure in high-altitude communities and advances regional environmental goals. The facility delivers meaningful social and economic benefits by integrating affordable housing with modern transit operations, supporting workforce retention while enhancing public transportation services. A key innovation was the use of a precast concrete structural system in place of conventional steel, enabling off-site fabrication and accelerated installation. This approach reduced construction risk in the mountain environment while improving schedule certainty and quality control. The completed facility will support Summit County’s transition to clean transportation and provide a scalable foundation for future transit operations.
